Paw Paw Woods Saturday January 27
Since we were thinning on the sides of a ravine, Joe located his brush piles at the bottom of that ravine. Later in the day, viewed from the south, the multiple brush piles appeared to merge into one continuous line. Very cool.
We accomplished much on this Saturday. The sunlight reaching the slopes as a result of our efforts will, we hope, encourage growth of native plants and prevent erosion. The wonderfully sculpted landscape is one of the features making our Palos preserves so special, and we strive to protect those features.
Swallow Cliff Sunday January 28
Bowsaw warriors with a small side of mushroom madness: we had 16 volunteers and they all brought their "A" game. When we started at this site less than a year ago, one of our goals was to reach the marsh at the bottom of the hill. A long-term goal at the time, but one that looked more achievable as the months passed.
Getting there still meant tackling some prodigious honeysuckles, and our group was up to the challenge. To paraphrase an old song lyric 'they cut and they burned, and they burned and they cut', and eventually broke through. No champagne toasts, a good feeling just the same. Thanks to first-timers Ed, Jing, Eddie, Gian Luca, and Leo, almost-newbies Laurel and Brendan, and to everyone else who participated.
We also encountered some lovely fungi, pictured below.
Since we were thinning on the sides of a ravine, Joe located his brush piles at the bottom of that ravine. Later in the day, viewed from the south, the multiple brush piles appeared to merge into one continuous line. Very cool.
We accomplished much on this Saturday. The sunlight reaching the slopes as a result of our efforts will, we hope, encourage growth of native plants and prevent erosion. The wonderfully sculpted landscape is one of the features making our Palos preserves so special, and we strive to protect those features.
Swallow Cliff Sunday January 28
Bowsaw warriors with a small side of mushroom madness: we had 16 volunteers and they all brought their "A" game. When we started at this site less than a year ago, one of our goals was to reach the marsh at the bottom of the hill. A long-term goal at the time, but one that looked more achievable as the months passed.
Getting there still meant tackling some prodigious honeysuckles, and our group was up to the challenge. To paraphrase an old song lyric 'they cut and they burned, and they burned and they cut', and eventually broke through. No champagne toasts, a good feeling just the same. Thanks to first-timers Ed, Jing, Eddie, Gian Luca, and Leo, almost-newbies Laurel and Brendan, and to everyone else who participated.
We also encountered some lovely fungi, pictured below.
Super Blue Blood Moon January 30
Many years ago a close friend went to Hawaii and camped on a lava field in hopes of seeing a total solar eclipse. Heavy cloud cover effectively obscured his view of the sun.
I traveled just five miles to Saganashkee Slough for Wednesday morning's lunar eclipse and had a clear view of the moon until it was roughly half-covered by earth's shadow. That's when clouds got in the way and I had just a couple glimpses of the 'blood' moon before sunrise drew near and the show was over.
Complaining? Oh no! Fortunate to be there, to be a breathing, sentient being on that day.
Many years ago a close friend went to Hawaii and camped on a lava field in hopes of seeing a total solar eclipse. Heavy cloud cover effectively obscured his view of the sun.
I traveled just five miles to Saganashkee Slough for Wednesday morning's lunar eclipse and had a clear view of the moon until it was roughly half-covered by earth's shadow. That's when clouds got in the way and I had just a couple glimpses of the 'blood' moon before sunrise drew near and the show was over.
Complaining? Oh no! Fortunate to be there, to be a breathing, sentient being on that day.
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