Blog Archives

McMahon August 23, 2025

8/28/2025

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday August 23
Perhaps the toughest of invasive plants in McMahon is Asian bittersweet (though white sweet clover on the prairie makes a strong case too). The bittersweet vines are a terrible trip hazard, and if you cross the woodlands regularly, you've likely been grabbed by the ankles on numerous occasions.

Last Saturday Joe and the volunteer group tackled some of it - depending on size it can be cut with loppers, bowsaw, of gas brush-cutter. He's returning to McMahon this Saturday - hasn't said if it's another bittersweet day or something else. Well worth the effort if we're able to check its spread.

0 Comments

Cap Sauers August 16, Black Partridge August 17, 2025

8/21/2025

0 Comments

Cap Sauers Holding Saturday August 16
We had a decent group at Cap Saturday, collecting seed while Joe and members of Palos Resource Management crew were off spraying weeds.

We focused on woodland grasses, primarily bottlebrush which ripens early and is one of our abundant woodland grasses. We also gathered some rye, though many of those flowers were not yet ready for collection. It was a decent morning to be out there. Thanks, first-time Palos volunteer Daniel, for joining us!

Black Partridge Woods Sunday August 17
Overnight rain and an overcast sky made me think it would be an easy day, spent collecting seed then deadheading teasel plants. About the time we shifted from the former to the latter task, the sky began clearing and we began feeling the heat. By 11:00 I was soaked with sweat, and since we had bagged all the teasels in our little pasture we decided to break off early.

One month ago we attacked teasel in the same location, cutting flowers as we did on this day. John could not herbicide due to rain, so many of the flowers were from plants we'd already 'deflowered' once. The instructive part is that in one month, while able to produce new flowers, none had yet gone to seed.

Better to herbicide and get rid of 'em, of course, but good to know they need more than a month to move through the flower/seed cycle.

0 Comments

McMahon Woods August 9, 2025

8/14/2025

0 Comments

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday August 9
I wasn't at this one and didn't get a report or see any post on FB so I'm awaiting a response from Margaret who might have attended. I was at Little Red Schoolhouse, didn't want to tackle the vine-infested walk, or the direct sun at McMahon while dealing with a minor hip issue. so I went to Little Red instead.
Update: per Margaret Tobin, Joe canceled this one after a couple of volunteers bowed out for assorted reasons.

Little Red Schoolhouse
It's a pleasure to drop in here - Karen Garrett is a terrific leader and Little Red a place I've always enjoyed. Better still, we cut brush right by the parking lot which was an ideal situation for me. Palos RM crew members cut bigger tree of heaven and buckthorn not far away, while we worked on smaller buckthorn, honeysuckle, and multiflora rose. The crew then chipped all of it - what a blessing on a hot August day!

0 Comments

McMahon Woods August 2, 2025

8/7/2025

0 Comments

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday August 2
We welcomed August with a return visit to McMahon for another shot at white sweet clover. In addition to a small number of volunteers, Joe had help from the Palos Resource Management crew. White sweet clover has a fairly long growing season, so if you're following us here that's why Joe keeps returning. That plus the tenacity of the stuff - it doesn't give up easily and the seeds last a long time.

Kickapoo Woods Saturday August 2
I missed the above weed session due to another great opportunity, to climb in a canoe, paddle a short distance down the Little Calumet River, and plant native species along the riverbank to mitigate erosion.

Called Paddle and Plant, it's run by Friends of the Chicago River - they provide the boats, gear, and plants as well as a set of guides to watch and help if help is needed. It's quite fun and we got lucky with a somewhat cool morning. That, and standing ankle to knee-deep in the river took the edge off the August sun.

Thank you, Joy Vrchota, for telling me about this program and being open to trying something new. Friends of the Chicago River is doing important work in cleaning Chicago waterways; check them out right here.

0 Comments

McMahon August 23, 2025

Cap Sauers August 16, Black Partridge August 17, 2025

McMahon Woods August 9, 2025

McMahon Woods August 2, 2025

Author

Archives

Categories