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Spears Woods December 24, Paddock Woods December 28, 2016

12/28/2016

Spears Woods December 24

We had a good turnout for Christmas Eve, on a damp morning with minimal wind. It took considerable effort to get a fire going. A little help from the leaf-blower kept it cookin' throughout.

We hit the trifecta; honeysuckle, barberry, and multi-flora. Some of the latter were quite large and feisty, though they eventually succumbed and were oxidized with their friends and co-conspirators.

Thanks to first-time volunteers Yaraly, Alex, and Allison for joining us!

Paddock Woods December 28

The snow cover we had through much of December was obliterated by the evening rain Christmas Day, and by Wednesday the ground was drying out. This made it a good day for brush-cutting and we did a lot of that, way back in our southeast corner of Paddock. Bob and Chris broke through to 119th Street, and next week we will continue in that area.

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Willow Springs December 17, Paddock December 21, 2016

12/18/2016

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Willow Springs Woods December 17

Back to Willow West, one of this writer's favorite places. We again worked near the cemetery boundary, with Joe hoping to bring more light to ground level just inside the fence. A bit cold starting out, things got better as the morning wore on and the fire grew.

We got some good work done, hauling a number of the cut pieces a distance to avoid having multiple burn scars. Our fellers were stellar in keeping fallen limbs off the cemetery fence.

Choosing brush pile location is a first order of business after arrival

Paddock Woods December 21

Back to Paddock after skipping a week due to cold temps, we walked portions of the site first looking at potential locations for future workdays. Then we settled on one right off the trail, hacking and flailing at the honeysuckle for the next two hours. It went well and we heard some encouraging words from locals passing by.

Thank you Douglas for organizing and running these days, and thank you to all the volunteers who continue to participate. This will be a regular Wednesday event in the foreseeable future.

Doug Chien going Picasso on the cut stumps

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Willows Springs December 10, Hidden Pond December 11, 2016

12/12/2016

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Willow Springs Woods December 10

Sometimes the weather is the story. On Saturday at Willow, we were able to get our work done ahead of the main band of snow that came through the area. We cleared brush along the ravine just east of 104th Avenue, burning three brush piles.

On a visit to the site two days later, two of those fires had enough hot embers to rekindle them. This, despite 3-4 inches of snow including that messy wet stuff at the end of the second round. The parking lot, closed for the season, contained the snowman pictured below, someone's anonymous gift to all who pass through.

Hidden Pond December 11

We didn't have high expectations for Sunday morning, given the snow already on the ground and the forecast of more to come. So it was a most pleasant surprise when several freshman biology students from Whitney Young HS arrived, accompanied by parents who joined in the work.

We cut honeysuckle and multi-flora rose on the wooded rise just north of the prairie, opening up a sizeable area by our noon quit time. Our single fire was warm and welcome.

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Cap Sauers 12-3, McClaughrey 12-4, Cap Sauers 12-4, Paddock 12-7-2016

12/5/2016

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Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday December 3

We've been at Margaret's site two Saturdays in a row due to a schedule swap with Joe, this time working a little closer to Ford Road and the watchman's house. In fact, smoke from our two fires could be seen from the road. Not that common on Palos workdays due to the size of our preserves and the remoteness of some of our work areas.

Margaret has been working in a couple of discrete areas, and her goal is to eventually connect them and expand over to Visitation Prairie.

McClaughrey Springs Sunday December 4

The first measurable snow of the season fell today, starting in the middle of Diana's workday and lasting through the afternoon.

Diana and volunteers worked on brush on the east side of Mill Creek, just north of the trail that runs to Swallow Cliff. Not too long ago this area was overgrown; now there are clear sightlines down to the creek and it looks just great! Many volunteer hours have gone into pushing that brush back and the results are very much worth the effort.

Cap Sauers Holding, Sunday December 4

Driving to Cap the snow was falling steadily but had not accumulated much. That changed during the 3-1/2 hours we spent there; we had to push one car to get it out and sweep several inches of snow off all the cars. On the way home, we saw one poor soul who sailed off the road a short distance east on 83 from the trailhead.

We burned the brush piles from our October and November workdays, which ignited well despite the snow cover and high humidity. Our crew of nine really pushed to get everything dragged to the fires. It was truly fun - any day you play in the midst of falling snow is one to savor.

Paddock Woods Wednesday December 7

This one was a wee bit cold, though we eventually warmed up thanks to the fire and some vigorous bowsaw use. Sandhill cranes were very active; we had several groups pass overhead, flying much lower than normally seen. I included a photo below, taken with the phone camera so it's not the best. Still cool to see them as something more than mere specks passing overhead.

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Spears Woods December 24, Paddock Woods December 28, 2016

Willow Springs December 17, Paddock December 21, 2016

Willows Springs December 10, Hidden Pond December 11, 2016

Cap Sauers 12-3, McClaughrey 12-4, Cap Sauers 12-4, Paddock 12-7-2016

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