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McClaughrey Springs August 21, 2022

8/25/2022

McClaughrey Springs Sunday August 21
We were scheduled for Cap Sauers the preceding day but Margaret had to cancel after two rounds of rain moved through the area. She planned to collect seed and rain literally throws a damper on that task.

So a small group came to McClaughrey on Sunday, cutting brush near recent work areas (relying on Doug Bosco's FB post as your correspondent was out of town). Doug was on brushcutter, ending a two-month plus hiatus and no doubt making him happy. No burning on this day, cut-and-drop.

Soon, however, we will return to cut and burn sessions. Not this weekend, with one weed day and one seed-collecting day planned, but soon after that. Depends on the weather and the stewards.

Redgate Woods Trailblazers Walk Thursday August 18
This walk was led by Martha, a volunteer with a keen interest in history, and focused on the original Argonne Laboratory site at Redgate Woods. Fascinating stuff! After hearing the history we hiked to Site M, where the old reactor is buried. Quite the enjoyable and informative time.

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McMahon Woods August 13, Black Partridge Woods August 14, 2022

8/15/2022

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McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday August 13
Originally slotted for Cranberry Slough, we instead ended up at McMahon for one last shot at white sweetclover.
By now many of the plants are dropping seed; see the picture below of what must be thousands of tiny seeds at the bottom of a collapsible yard waste bag. As I pushed the plants into the bag I could hear the sound of the seeds hitting its bottom - it sounded rather like rainfall.

It can take years to see what impact our efforts had - so many variables go into plant growth - that we can only hope the population is reduced over time.

Best part of the day was the richness of plants on the prairie. Saw my first cardinal flower and obedient plant of the season that morning, evidence how deep we are into summer. Each week brings something new.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday August 14
Sunday was a pleasant change of pace. Instead of chasing weeds, we spent the afternoon collecting seed and touring the nature preserve side of the site. We'll have a couple more sessions of seed collecting coming up, at Swallow Cliff August 28 and Hidden Pond September 11.

Cool day, somewhat overcast, so weather was no concern at all. Saw my first great blue lobelia of the season, just a day after its red cousin noted above. While many of the seeds are not ready yet, we got some grasses and a small amount of a couple forbs.

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McMahon Woods & Fen August 6, 2022

8/10/2022

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McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday August 6
Just a couple of us pulling white sweetclover on the prairie, a couple more carrying backpack sprayers. The sun was intense so we took a couple extended shade/hydration breaks. Many of the larger plants have gone to seed by now, while new, smaller ones continue to pop up. Tenacious!

Our Sunday session at McClaughrey Springs was canceled by rain, rescheduled to Sunday August 21. Black Partridge, usually on that third Sunday, will instead be on Sunday August 14, 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

Just a few more weeks of weed control, then comes a transition back to brush-cutting and burn piles. We'll also see moderation of the heat; while we haven't had crazy-high temps (just a couple days near 100 degrees) the humidity and exposure to the sun are a double whammy.

We offer a sincere thank-you to each of the volunteers that graced us with their presence over the past couple months.

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McMahon July 30, Sagawau July 31, 2022

8/4/2022

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McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday July 30
We returned for another bout with melilotus alba (white sweet clover), our fourth of the season. This time, at least, it seemed we were pushing it back a bit. We'll return again this Saturday, and I fully expect to be back again next summer. This stuff fights back, it's tenacious.

Our weed-pulling crew numbered eight of so, including first-time Palos volunteer Lisa, and Brea, who didn't get enough of melilotus the previous Sunday at Black Partridge. Lisa also spotted a really cool moth caterpillar, pictured below. We also had two people cutting and stacking brush and four toting backpack sprayers across the prairie. Rock stars one and all!

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Sunday July 31
With an open fifth Sunday, I made my way to Sagawau to join naturalist Laura and a small group of volunteers cutting brush. It's truly pretty there right now and I highly recommend a visit to see all their colors of summer.

The brush-cutting was reminiscent of honeysuckle days at McMahon, where bittersweet vine ties all the targets into a tangled mess. Here the offending vine was grape, with the effect the same. The volunteer group handled it well and punched a nice hole into the thicket of brush at Sagawau fen.

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McClaughrey Springs August 21, 2022

McMahon Woods August 13, Black Partridge Woods August 14, 2022

McMahon Woods & Fen August 6, 2022

McMahon July 30, Sagawau July 31, 2022

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