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McMahon September 25, Swallow Cliff September 25, 2022

9/26/2022

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McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday September 24
Joe chose a small area, between the creek and the main prairie, for Saturday's work site. It had a lot of honeysuckle, blocking prescribed fire from moving father north.

Doug with the brush-cutter, Neal with the chainsaw, the rest of us with hand tools, we cut and dragged and burned, removing all the undesirables within the area. Quite a productive morning for our smallish crew.

Palos Park Library Walk Saturday September 24
This was our first fall walk with Palos Park Library, and we did it at Spears Woods, walking the loop from the parking lot to Boomerang Slough, then to Old Country Lane. It's a tour that has it all, woodland, wetlands, and prairie, in the space of a couple miles. The library patrons are always fun to walk with - next time out will be October  22 at Cranberry Slough.

It also instills a deeper appreciation for all the parties involved in restoration.  As we passed different sites I could say "Two years ago this was honeysuckle hell, then contractors came in with brush mowers", or "Conservation Corps cleared all along this ravine", or "here we had volunteers cutting and burning".

It truly does take a village, a web of partnerships that support and sustain one another.


Swallow Cliff Woods South Sunday September 25
Our Lady of the Woods sent another group to Swallow Cliff, and they were as energetic and fun as those who came last March. We're starting work in a new section this fall, so our first steps off the trail were a plunge into head-high goldenrod bordering the wall of brush we're targeting.

We did very well, burning two brush piles and clearing a nice-sized section that was quite thick with honeysuckle. I returned the next day and was impressed. Thank you Our Lady of the Woods, thank you Leah and Emilie and the rest of Sunday's team.

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Maple Lake/Paw Paw Woods September 10, 2022

9/15/2022

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Maple Lake/Paw Paw Woods Saturday September 10
We had a small group of volunteers cutting and burning invasive brush on the north shore of Maple Lake. This is a spot we've worked in the past, including a fun day of winter tree-thinning several years ago when we dropped the cut trees onto lake ice. A bit warmer in September, but a cool enough morning to kick off fall brushpile burns.

My thanks to Jim Dzialowy for pictures and his account of the morning.

Our Heart Your Park service day at Hidden Pond was rained out last Sunday and is rescheduled for Sunday October 9. We again plan to collect seeds of native plants from the prairie and welcome your participation.

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Willow Springs September 3, McClaughrey Springs September 4, 2022

9/8/2022

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Willow Springs Woods Saturday September 3
We were another small group on this Saturday preceding Labor Day, chasing down thistles in a contractor work area of a year or two ago  It's impressive how quickly forbs and grasses come back after a plot is cleared of brush; not all of it is native and desirable, of course, impressive just the same.

Our main target was bull thistle, with several of us clipping flowers while Joe and Diana carried back[pack sprayers. It was a pretty day, albeit warm as the morning wore on, and we dragged our bags of booty back to the lot at quittin' time for disposal.

McClaughrey Springs Woods Sunday September 4
Diana had a small group at the meadow at McClaughrey, cutting and burning woody invasives. Could not attend due to prior plans, told it was a productive morning.

This weekend will be split between brush-cutting at Paw Paw (Saturday) and seed collecting at Hidden Pond Sunday. By the end of September the primary focus will be brush-cutting, and will remain there throughout fall.

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Willow Springs Woods August 27, Swallow Cliff Woods August 28, 2022

9/1/2022

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Willow Springs Woods Saturday August 27
I missed this one due to another obligation, using Kathy Bruch's account and Doug Bosco's FB post/photos. The main target was bull thistle, aka the thistle whose thorns get through almost anything. Ouch! Aside from the clippers there were a couple backpack sprayers joining the fray, which will be repeated this Saturday, September 3. We're getting near the end of weed season.

Swallow Cliff Woods Sunday August 28
This was the first of our three dates collaborating with Forest Preserves of Cook County, Citgo, and National Recreation and Park Association. We collected seed in the south woodland, bottlebrush grass, woodland brome, a bit of silky rye, and several forbs.

And yes! We had several finds of doll's eyes, always a high point of these dates (at least to this correspondent). We also had a good turnout, including five first-time Palos volunteers; Jared, Brian, Dan, Jesse, and John. A big thanks to Kris DaPra for obtaining the grant, Emily Russell for leading the day, and Diana Krug who toted a backpack sprayer for several hours while we did our seed hunt.
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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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