Paddock Woods Saturday August 31
We cut honeysuckle in an area within the trail loop, finding (and eliminating) a distressingly large thicket of the stuff. Doug went gonzo with the brushcutter while Jim used his chainsaw to good effect.
We saw this dazzling green caterpillar which Dave Branigan identified as a polyphemus moth caterpillar - I have a picture of the moth he will become, taken in Princeton IL a couple years ago, hiding somewhere on my hard drive. Check the caterpillar picture below, he's a beauty!
Cap Sauers Holding Sunday September 1
We had a small crew for this one so Bob decided to collect seed. Mostly bottlebrush grass, the one seed that was consistently ripe and ready. Thanks to first-time Palos volunteers Luke and John for joining us!
Spears Woods Tuesday September 3
Rain put a literal damper on this one, rain that came a couple hours ahead of the forecast I heard. We still went out to the prairie and collected, going after one sedge species which offered some ripe seed heads. I also got to see my first obedient plant blooms of the year, always a treat!
That's the payoff from our regular forays into the preserves - you're never certain what you'll see, only that it will vary by date and by location. Always another surprise!
We cut honeysuckle in an area within the trail loop, finding (and eliminating) a distressingly large thicket of the stuff. Doug went gonzo with the brushcutter while Jim used his chainsaw to good effect.
We saw this dazzling green caterpillar which Dave Branigan identified as a polyphemus moth caterpillar - I have a picture of the moth he will become, taken in Princeton IL a couple years ago, hiding somewhere on my hard drive. Check the caterpillar picture below, he's a beauty!
Cap Sauers Holding Sunday September 1
We had a small crew for this one so Bob decided to collect seed. Mostly bottlebrush grass, the one seed that was consistently ripe and ready. Thanks to first-time Palos volunteers Luke and John for joining us!
Spears Woods Tuesday September 3
Rain put a literal damper on this one, rain that came a couple hours ahead of the forecast I heard. We still went out to the prairie and collected, going after one sedge species which offered some ripe seed heads. I also got to see my first obedient plant blooms of the year, always a treat!
That's the payoff from our regular forays into the preserves - you're never certain what you'll see, only that it will vary by date and by location. Always another surprise!
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