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Cranberry Sept 23, Swallow Cliff Sept 24, Paddock Sept 27, 2017

9/24/2017

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Summer's hottest weather came in autumn. It forced changes in our weekend activities.

Cranberry Slough Saturday September 23

We planned to cut and burn but a string of plus-90 degree days with high ozone levels led Joe to switch to seed collection at Cranberry. That was a great idea.

Thirty-five incoming MBA candidates from Northwestern U's Kellogg School of Management joined us, doing a morning of service as part of their orientation. They were a terrific group and an immense help, scouring the prairie for liatris, rattlesnake master, ironweed, and several other natives.

Swallow Cliff Sunday September 24

Jackie also decided to collect seed, along the loop trail at Swallow Cliff South. Here, again, we were joined by a number of students. This time they were high schoolers, most from Whitney Young, plus our favorite Jones College Prep student, Devin.

We gathered an awesome amount of Joe Pye, false and true Solomon's seal, and a variety of other seeds. Since we were gathering woodland species, we even had the benefit of shade as we worked.

Paddock Wednesday September 27

Finally a cool day so fire returned to the woodland at Paddock. We had two brush piles, burning things cut a week ago and longer, as well as cutting more honeysuckle and euonymus. 'Twas a good day...

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Cap to Swallow, Partridge to Paddock: September 16 - 21

9/20/2017

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Saturday September 16, Cap Sauers Moraines
We worked deeper in along a ravine where we cut brush earlier in the year, with brushcutters, a chainsaw, and hand tools. Though I had another commitment and could not stay the entire time I'm confident a lot got done from seeing how volunteers were pitching in while I was there.

Sunday September 17, Swallow Cliff Woods South
We collected seed in the morning, working inside the loop in a lovely area under management for many years. Mostly we collected woodland grasses for distribution later; we also spotted a couple kinds of berries which were taken to a recently-cleared spot and spread around.

Thanks to first time volunteers Tyler, Artur, Jessica, and James. It's always exciting to see new faces and is our sincere hope they can make it out again.

Sunday September 24, Black Partridge Woods
Our afternoon gig was brush cutting and burning. It was hot, and it was tough, and we are most grateful to everyone who helped us and endured the heat. If we didn't already have brush piles from a previous day, we probably would have deferred on the burning, but we didn't want to get too far behind.

Great crew, great day! Thanks to another set of first-timers: Donna, Dave, Brian and Amy, and to Tyler who doubled up after the morning at Swallow Cliff.

Wednesday September 20, Paddock Woods
After a wonderfully cool summer it seems that this week's heat and humidity scared off many of our Paddock regulars.  Nevertheless a small group worked on clearing invasives along a ravine in the SE corner of Paddock. Now complete, it will be a breeze for our chain sawyers to thin trees and let the sunlight in.
Thanks to Doug Chien for the account on this Paddock workday.

Thursday September 21, Nature Walk at Spears Woods
Under a blazing sun, we walked from the Spears lot to the prairie near Boomerang Slough with half a dozen patrons of Palos Park Library and librarian Jessica Rock. We sought shade whenever possible. So much fun sharing the preserves with others!

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Willow West, McClaughrey, Arie Crown Picnic, Paddock - Week of September 8-14

9/12/2017

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Saturday September 9, Willow Springs Woods West

A short walk in to Willow West? Lovin' it! At the south end near the cemetery fence, we burned a huge amount of buckthorn from a past workday and added more brush and logs cut that morning. Thanks to Dennis and Bob for coming from 'the other side of 55' with chainsaws to help, and thanks also to Adam, Ebony, and Bria from FOTFP for their tremendous assist.

It was truly a productive day and everyone there worked hard to make it so.

Sunday September 10, McClaughrey Springs Woods

Diana and company busted a big hole in a honeysuckle cluster near Mill Creek, proving it doesn't take large numbers to do serious work.

Sunday September 10, Picnic at Arie Crown Forest

Man, that was fun!

Thanks to everyone who attended and shared a variety of good things to eat. Thanks to Joan and LuAnne for hosting and getting a lovely, secluded grove where we could play. Thanks to Julie P for her organizational skill which makes things run smoothly.

Wednesday September 13, Paddock Woods

Seed collecting at Paddock on another lovely morning, with a good group including four crew members from Friends of the Forest Preserves.

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Pioneer Sept 2, Cap Sauers Sept 3 & 5, Paddock Sept 6 2017

9/3/2017

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Pioneer September 2

Great to have Ken Schroeder out two weeks in a row. He got the fire going quickly on a damp morning, in a sheltered spot where we could have struggled.

The work site was along Old Country Lane, clearing a large patch of brush in an otherwise grassy area with a thriving population of bidens. Thanks to first-time volunteer Alisha for joining us, also Jim on the chainsaw and Doug on the brushcutter.

Cap Sauers September 3

We cut and burned honeysuckle a bit farther south along Visitation Trail. The longer walk in shows the progress Bob Arentz and volunteers are making in this sector. Another lovely late-summer day, sheer pleasure! First-timer Jack came with dad Darin on our fledgling "Bring a Friend or Family Member' program.

Cap Sauers September 5

This time we collected seed close to Ford Road, with Margaret Tobin and Kris DaPra leading the day. Jacket weather for the first time in months, another delightful day to be outdoors.

Paddock September 6

We split into two groups, one collecting seed and the other cutting and burning along 86th Avenue. Congratulations to Paddock volunteer Greg on securing a position with FOTFP, and to first-timers Rob and Miss T who also will join FOTFP crews. Thanks also to new volunteer Alicia, brought by Rolando, for her help.

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    Author

    I'm Jan Pietrzak with the Palos Restoration Project. This blog and website were created for your information and enjoyment.

    I hope you'll be encouraged and inspired to volunteer at any of the numerous forest preserves in our area.

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