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Spears and Swallow Cliff, November 25, 2017

11/30/2017

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Spears Woods Saturday November 25

Working off T-day dinner is an annual ritual, and we did it with a focused assault on honeysuckle a short jog off the yellow trail at Spears.  We only numbered ten or so but cleared a decent patch along a small ditch, and burned two brush piles in the course of the morning.

Sign of the season; frequent flights of sandhill cranes overhead.

Second sign of the season; prescribed burns at McMahon and elsewhere. Saturday was day one of fall burns (see photos below).

Swallow Cliff Woods Saturday November 25

This was the first of steward John O'Lear's 'dormant-season' workdays, which take place at the west side of the preserve, near Cherry Hill Woods picnic grove and prairie. We cut a large stack of viburnum to be burned on another day.

Brookfield Woods Adventure, Sunday November 26

With all the activity we have in Palos, I don't get out of the area often. This was a chance to work again with Iza Redlinski, former Stewardship Aide and one of the many great people found in the Cook County restoration community.

Usually in Palos we work far from the road and the picnic groves. Not so here; we were right at the intersection of 1st Avenue and 26th St., a steady stream of cars passing by on the road, runners and cyclists on the asphalt path. The target area was a thicket of buckthorn that got pushed way back by quitting time.

Should I mention that Iza served some delicious mushroom barley soup, while burn boss Liz added baked sweet potatoes to the post-workday meal? Fun time!

Capped off the adventure with a tire blowing out on 119th Street in Palos Park on the drive home. Must be the first time in 12 years I've changed a tire on the car because I could not find the scissors jack. Very clever, these Subaru designers. And the little roller skate wheel they give for a spare still had ample pressure!

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Swallow Cliff & Black Partridge Woods, November 19, 2017

11/22/2017

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We had another cancellation on Saturday the 18th, at Cap Sauers Moraines. Whatever influence we once had with the weather deities, we're losing it.

Swallow Cliff Woods South, Sunday November 19
Another super turnout here - 23 people total? Several of the younger volunteers were from Whitney Young HS, but numerous other schools represented here and at Partridge later in the day: Back of the Yards College Prep, Lewis U, Hinsdale Central, and Lincoln-Way East. Apologies for any I may have missed.

With all of this help, we spread out on the work site, creeping to the north and the brushy slope that's been a target since starting here nine months ago. It's opened up well, starting to look like the managed section south of the trail.

Black Partridge Woods, Sunday November 19
Sunday afternoon we had several more students and parents from Whitney Young HS. They helped expand the spot we've worked in recent months, while we also burned two months accumulation of brush from workdays when conditions didn't allow burning.

Thanks to Jim and Bob on chainsaw, and a special shout-out to Stephanie, Alex, and Kathy who made both the morning and afternoon sessions.
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Willow Springs November 11, Hidden Pond November 12, 2017

11/15/2017

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Willow Springs Woods Saturday November 11
Such a fun day! Twenty-one students from Benito Jaurez HS, courtesy of Build-On, worked along one of several creeks carrying rainwater through the sculpted terrain of Willow. The FOTFP Palos crew close by in one direction, and the Palos regulars, with chain saw and brushcutter, kept things hopping.

Three fires, much brush cut, with more awaiting us when we return in December. Bring it!

Hidden Pond Sunday November 12
The threat of rain hung over us throughout the morning - fortunately it didn't come 'til 11:45 when we were wrapping up. No wind meant no fire, a small detail we'll deal with on our next visit.

We had five students (and one dad) from Whitney Young HS freshman biology classes (thank you Ms. Garcia and Ms. Smith) and removed honeysuckle from a large area just north of the parking lot.

Cranberry Slough November 16
Our last Fall Colors Walk of the season, with Palos Park Public Library, fell on a chilly, windy morning.
We had a small, hardy group of walkers. Doug and I  totally enjoy partnering with Public Services Librarian Jessica Rock and are already plotting next spring and summer's events with her.
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Willow Springs Woods November 4, 2017

11/9/2017

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The ground was soaked; so were the volunteers. Some of our fire-starter (newspapers primarily) also got wet. Add in 96% humidity and the story of the morning was the fire starting challenge. It went all right on the first fire, while the second, at the bottom of a ravine, was tougher and took much longer. Lesson: keep your stuff dry.

Having said that, we cleared a significant area and worked hard burning what was cut. The maples at Willow West  were bright and glorious, with first frost and peak fall color having migrated into November we get to view this spectacle farther down the calendar.

We canceled both our Sunday workdays, a good move given an equally soggy forecast that included the possibility of storms, with lightning, in the afternoon. Twinkies? Maybe for a day.



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Willow Springs Woods October 28, 2017

11/2/2017

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Willow Springs Woods Saturday was a busy, active day, with a big group of volunteers, augmented by four Palos crew members from Friends of the Forest Preserves. Four different chain sawyers over the course of the morning, and two gas brush-cutters. With all that firepower we got a lot of brush cut, cleared a large area.

One section was an absolute infestation of multi-flora rose - short straws drawn by the volunteers tackling and dragging that mess. I counted at least four fires burning and expect Joe didn't put the last of them to bed until dusk.

Seems to me our fall colors peaked in the last week or so - certainly the maples were at their vibrant best. What a lovely time to be in the preserves, whether you're cutting brush or taking a relaxed walk through a woodland
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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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