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Spears Woods December 22, Swallow Cliff December 23, 2018

12/26/2018

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Spears Woods Saturday December 22
Our trek into Spears was most pleasant, looking at what's been accomplished in recent days at the site. Contract work along La Grange Road on both sides of the picnic grove has removed large stretches of brush - including extensive infestations of barberry - resulting is a much more open woodland. It's simply terrific!

For a relatively small group we hit it hard.  Doug did much damage with the brushcutter, Diana with the chain saw. We had three students from Chicago Bulls College Prep helping us (who came again to Swallow Cliff the following day) and several of our regular hard-working Saturday crew.

It was an easy day to get fire going, with a brisk enough breeze to keep it that way. We're clearing right on a prairie's edge with a good view of the center portion of Spears.

Swallow Cliff Sunday December 23
Two days before Christmas we weren't sure what to expect. What we did NOT expect was a group of 25 volunteers! Twelve scouts and parents came from St. Sympharosa on the SW Side, the three guys from Chicago Bulls College Prep, first time Palos volunteer Patrick, Emma and Kelli from Hinsdale, Brian and Leslie, Mike and Dave  and Jean, Carrie and Devin, and my apologies to anyone I may have overlooked.

So, yeah, a most pleasant surprise and a super day. We stayed near the parking lot, starting with one fire and eventually adding another as the area cleared of brush grew and grew. Walked out thinking of next time, in January.
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Cap Sauers December 15, Black Partridge December 16, 2018

12/17/2018

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Saturday December 15, Cap Sauers Moraines
Sunshine and warmer temps made it a good day for attacking a thicket of brush at Cap Sauers. That included another unhealthy dose of bittersweet vine. Pictured below is a bittersweet as big as the tree it victimized - it reminds me of video of a boa constrictor strangling its prey. Seems unfair...

So we hacked away at the honeysuckle and entwined vines, and loaded the fires as best we could, eventually clearing a respectable stretch lying between Ford Road and the multi-use trail. A lovely spot made more lovely by removal of the trespassers.

Sunday December 16, Black Partridge Woods
This was a tree-thinning day, done the old-fashioned way, with bowsaws. A tip of the hat to first-timers Kieran, Kayla, and Justin from Whitney Young HS, and to regulars Leo from Westinghouse and dad Gian Luca, all bringing great energy to the endeavor and enhancing their tree-felling skills.
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Willow Springs Woods December 8, Hidden Pond December 9, 2018

12/13/2018

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Willow Springs Woods, Saturday December 8
A weekend with no rain, what a blessing! We had another super group out, including three more students (and two parents) from Whitney Young freshman biology class. We continued to clear brush in the same area we've hit earlier this fall and it's looking great.

As noted in prior posts, this part of Willow Springs Woods is thick with the invasive bittersweet vine (Celastrus orbiculatus). This is the demon with pretty red berries and gold capsule, the one that crafters use to decorate wreaths and other creations.  Don't do this! This is nasty, nasty stuff!

Hidden Pond Woods, Sunday December 9
On a 16-degree morning, we were greeted with almost no wind, which meant no brush pile burning. Not a problem for the vigorous group assembled on prairie's edge; bowsaws, loppers, and dragging generate lots of body heat if you keep moving.  The bright sun also was a big help.

Big thank-yous to Nicole and Kevin from Volunteer Resources, new volunteers Maggie, Esperanza (and mom), and returnees Andrew, Dave, Laura, Zachary, Jean, and Kathy, and steward Mary. Great day, many feeder piles built for next time.

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McClaughrey Springs and Cap Sauers Holding,     December 2, 2018

12/6/2018

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Saturday at Spears Woods was canceled due to rain, words that roll too easily off the tongue these days. Fortunately we did better on Sunday.

McClaughrey Springs Sunday December 2
Great turnout for this one, with several students from Whitney Young HS (yes, another school assignment which we benefit immensely from), also help from the Tinley Resource management crew and first-time Palos volunteer Jake.

Diana's working farther west along the Yellow Trail now, right before it dips beneath La Grange Road and heads west to Swallow Cliff. This is a really nice area, with some good spring ephemerals growing on the side of the bluff in season. It sound like she will focus attention on this area for several months now.

Cap Sauers Sunday December 2
This was our afternoon session, where we did not burn, just went bow-saw crazy for a couple hours. Amazing how much you cut when you're not dragging everything to the fire. And when we return to burn it we'll have drier, more easily burned brush awaiting us in stacks throughout the work zone.

Thanks to Patrick, Devin, and Carrie for their great energy and to Kathy for her diligence in herbiciding all the stumps. My shoulders ached later, wonder if anyone else felt the same. Fun time!
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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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