Blog Posts - Palos Restoration Project

Willow Springs March 30, McClaughrey Springs March 31, 2019

3/31/2019

Willow Springs Woods Saturday March 30
'Twas a wet and muddy morning as we tromped through Willow Springs Woods. We leapt over the swollen creek - for accuracy's sake, the young'uns leapt while some waded - on our way to the work site.

Once we arrived the honeysuckle, barberry, multi-flora rose and bittersweet had not a chance; we hacked and dragged and burned, clearing a messy area near one of the recently brush-mowed sections. We are diligently working our way toward Old Country Lane to connect with Spears on the other side.

McClaughrey Springs Woods Sunday March 31
This was a make-up tree-thinning day - our February session was canceled by rough weather. We were fortunate to have Chainsaw Bob and Sultan Dennis from T. Stone and Jim from Thatcher joining us for chainsaw duty, along with Steve. Mark and Ryan from Resource Management also brought their saws and helped until starting a prescribed burn later in the morning.

With big fires on a bracingly cold morning it felt more like January than the last day of March. We had a total of five students from Hickory Hills - three scouting brothers Joe, Mike and Bill, plus Jeimar and younger brother Sean. We had numerous other volunteers and no complaints about nothing to do. Thanks also to Alex and Jesus who stayed all the way to 3 pm.

A special shout-out to Chris Schriam, who passed the tests for her State of Illinois herbicide operator and applicator licenses last Friday. Well done!

Willow Springs March 23, Swallow Cliff March 24, 2019

3/28/2019

Willow Springs Woods Saturday March 23
Scheduled for Cap Sauers, we switched to Willow West due to prescribed burns at the former. We had a super group of volunteers, numbering 18 to 20. Awesome! Included were first-time Palos volunteers Dennis and Eric, a scouting family from La Grange Troop 216, and Natalie, whose father and brother are past volunteers and friends..

We did cleanup at a site we worked earlier this year, cutting new brush as well as burning some logs left over from that day. It was a clear morning that started with frost and warmed quickly. What seemed like a continuous stream of sandhill cranes passed overhead - when you couldn't see them you still couldn't help but hear their calls.

Swallow Cliff Woods South Sunday March 24
We welcomed steward Jackie Majdov back after a short maternity break, continuing to remove honeysuckle from a slope above the marsh-like cluster of reed canary grass below. We were a dozen-strong this day, including John and Chris doubling up after Willow the preceding day.

We cut a lot and burned two brush piles, all of this on a morning that, 24 hours earlier, had a forecast of rain that could have shut us down. Blessedly, that rain didn't come until early afternoon.

Burn Season
Prescribed burns began in earnest barely two weeks ago. Forest Preserves, FOTFP, and contractor crews, with volunteer help, have been all over the county ever since. When their time comes they truly hit the ground running, helmeted, yellow-suited, carrying flappers and drip torches, busily going about their business. (Those gripping the drip torches often are seen wearing big smiles.)

Willow Springs March 16, Black Partridge March 17, 2019

3/20/2019

Willow Springs Woods Saturday March 16
Due to another commitment your roving reporter couldn't make this one, but others who were present say this: it was another round of catalpa toss, hoisting logs much larger than you'd normally pick up (catalpa being a very lightweight wood) and tossing them on the fire like you're some macho superman or woman.

Great fun, highly recommended in these pages. I did a round of it a month ago and also found the catalpa's quick burning property gratifying. Our return here allowed for further cleanup an area last worked under snow cover around Presidents Day.

Fun fact: The spelling “catalpa” is due to a transcription error on the part of the describing botanist making the first formal scientific description of the genus. Should be "catawba" chippewa.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/catalpa-a-showy-fast-growing-ornamental-tree/article_5d606d98-a8a2-11e0-8572-001cc4c002e0.html

Black Partridge Woods Sunday March 17
Like the preceding day, we returned to a site last worked in February to do additional cleanup and burning. This was a pretty area above the creek, a stone's throw from the western border of Black Partridge, which is also the border with Will County.

We were blessed with a super group on a lovely sunny March day, including first-time Palos volunteer Ethan. We were also way beyond fortunate that Bob Erck showed up with his chainsaw. John's was balky and Bob's saw was truly a force multiplier on the task we engaged.

Pat spotted a pileated woodpecker, came thisclose to getting a good picture. This was later in the afternoon, when the work ceased and we sat waiting for the fires to burn down. Beautiful day, beautiful place.

Cap Sauers March 9, Hidden Pond & Spring Party March 10, 2019

3/14/2019

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday March 9
We were back at Cap on consecutive Saturdays. Got a really good workout on this one, side by side with a terrific crew that built several roaring fires. Drier conditions and ample winds made fire-starting easy so we were able to focus on the dragging and burning side of the job.

I went back two days later to walk portions of the preserve, starting from our work site then crossing Visitation Prairie and looping to the north before reconnecting with the Sag Trail near the area where Bob Arentz is clearing brush. We passed through a big section cleared by the recent brush-mowing project, crossing the prairie, and visualizing what it all will look like in a few weeks as the growing season gets underway.

Hidden Pond Sunday March 10
This was Mary Busch's birthday so Jeimar ("J") brought his violin to serenade her with a musical interlude. We found a safe place to locate a fire at the bottom of a slope (a very windy day, hooray for ground-truthing!) and continued to push into the wooded area, taking out honeysuckle and multi-flora rose along the way.

Students from Stagg, Conrady, Whitney Young, and GCE Lab School graced our day with their presence and efforts, and Andrew got his first field experience herbiciding. Thanks to all of them, including first-time Palos volunteers Bryce and Francisco.

Palos Springs Potluck Sunday March 10
Like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get at a potluck. At one of ours it's a safe bet it'll be good. With a great turnout came an assortment of tasty, creative dishes; I tried mightily but could not sample everything...

The conversation was as good as the food, the sun beamed through the lodge windows, and Nguyen from Sagawau staff took us some emergent skunk cabbage (my first of the season). So there is some hope for spring...

Thanks to Nicole Pierson from FPCC Volunteer Resources for attending, to those who came early to set up and to those helping with cleanup at the end - as Julie noted on FB, all we had to do when we got home was wash some napkins, everything else was clean and only had to be put away. Special thanks also to Mike for the t-shirts he made for our group. Super job!

Cap Sauers March 2 & 3, Shrub ID at Paw Paw Woods March 3, 2019

3/5/2019

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday March 2
We had quite the productive day despite having to shift gears at the start. With two chainsaws and two brushcutters running we had an abundance of cut brush to haul and burn. Relatively dry conditions and ample wind made it easy to get the fires going and keep 'em burning.

Paw Paw Woods Native Shrub ID Sunday March 3
Stewardship aides Teri Radke and Cyndi Duda started this class with an hour in the field near Maple Lake viewing a variety of native shrubs, then moved indoors to Little Red Schoolhouse, a good move on a cold breezy morning. There we viewed numerous twigs and buds, getting a wealth of good information and insight. Thanks Teri and Cyndi!

Cap Sauers Holding Sunday March 3
In February we didn't burn at Cap so we had an abundance of cut brush awaiting us. By afternoon's end we had all of it on the fire and Patrick continued to cut and add more fresh stuff. This area, up high on a hill above the treail and wetland, continues to open up with each visit. It will lok sensational come growing season.

Weekend of February 23-24, 2019

2/27/2019

Wild Things Saturday February 24
No restoration work in Palos on Saturday as many of us attended Wild Things in Rosemont. This was a good conference, the biggest challenge came in selection which speaker to see in each time slot. I guess I chose well as none of them disappointed.

The breadth of topics was amazing and the day passed quickly.

Windy Sunday February 24
We canceled both our Sunday sessions due to wind speeds far too strong to safely work in a woodland. Not a bad choice either; yesterday I visited our would-be work site at Swallow Cliff Woods and found a newly fallen dead tree within spitting distance of one of our brush piles from our last visit.

Several broken limbs from the white pines near the parking lot also lay on the ground close to where we walk in. So no regrets over the cancellation. Though we hate to lose the day (and we've lost several recently) there truly is a time to let prudence rule. Thanks for that, Jackie and Diana!

Buckthorn Artwork
While we work feverishly to remove buckthorn when we see it, the colors of its wood are undeniably striking. Amber Kunz, member of the FOTFP Palos crew and regular volunteer at Sundown Meadow, created the plaque seen below from a cut wedge of buckthorn. Check it out.

Cap Sauers February 16, Black Partridge February 17, Willow Springs February 18, 2019

2/20/2019

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday February 16
Thanks to first-timer Marc and second-time Palos volunteer Chris for being part of this one, to Jim and Doug for their tireless energy and strength. We thinned trees not far from the trail and Ford Road, with several big, hot fires on a chilly morning.

Cap Sauers looks beautiful these days, with large tracts opening up due to brush-mowing funded by an anonymous benefactor. We are ever so grateful for this generous spirit - in addition to making huge improvements to the landscape, it brings a strong gust of wind to volunteers' sails.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday February 17
My thanks to Kathy Bruch for providing photos and an account of this session. And it was a tough one, an icy, sleety cold afternoon that resisted Carrie's and Devin's best efforts to build a sustainable fire. Perhaps if they had some 'dream wood' handy... see my next entry for more on this wondrous stuff.

Willow Springs Woods Monday February 18
This was our President's Day special and we spent it cutting and burning catalpa trees that have made their way into Willow on the north end. I am giving catalpa the tag 'dream wood' for two reasons.

One; it's a lightweight, low-density wood enabling one to easily hoist a much larger log than would be possible with maple or other denser woods. It can trick you into thinking you're actually strong!

Two, it burns like a dream. Despite three inches of new snow, we got our fires going with a few short minutes of propane to each stack, no need to follow up with a leaf-blower. Carolyn stopped gathering deadwood for kindling because it wasn't needed.

Thanks to FOTFP Palos crew leader Xochitl, who came to help on her day off AND brought a friend, Aaron. Kevin and Joe also were on hand.

Willow West February 9, Hidden Pond and Cap Sauers February 10, 2019

2/14/2019

Willow West Saturday February 9
We had a small group thinning trees at Willow West, again in sight of Fairmount Memorial Gardens. Sunshine took the edge off a cold early morning, and several large fires were an immense help too.

Thanks to first-time Palos volunteers Andrew and his dad Mike. They're from a local Boy Scout troop and we hope to join forces with them again.

Hidden Pond Sunday February 10
We had a great group, with first-timers Chris, Maeve, Joe, Mike, and Trevor, as well as returning friends Andrew, John, Tyler, and Doug. John ran his chain saw while the rest of us hacked and burned, pushing farther north on the slope rising above the prairie.

The snow started at 1 pm, a little ahead of schedule, as the last of the volunteers walked out. Someone on the radio said we had a string of over 30 days with some form of precipitation; this was one of those lighter snowfalls that do little more than make driving more interesting.

Cap Sauers Sunday February 10
With the snowfall, we did not burn this afternoon. We certainly cut a lot, ample fuel for next month's brush pile burns. First-time Palos volunteer Ingrid joined us on a fine day, with a little slipping and sliding mixed in on the trek back to the road. Cap Sauers looking lovely, as always...

Salute to Tom McAvoy
A note of sadness - learned Monday that Tom McAvoy, former 3rd Ward Alderman in Hickory Hills, passed away last December. Tom was a long-time friend of Roger and Cara Keller, and a friend of Palos Restoration Project.
For years Roger and Cara wrote a bulletin, "The Other Side of Kean", informing their neighbors of restoration activities at Hidden Pond. Alderman McAvoy included this in his 3rd Ward newsletter, distributed throughout the ward. I believe their last issue was June 2015, months before Roger's passing.
Doug Chien and I met Alderman McAvoy about two years ago at Moraine Valley College, when he asked us to produce another edition of "The Other Side of Kean". Doug did so and the alderman's corps of volunteers again distributed it.
Tom also attended our dedication of Roger Keller's memorial bench at Hidden Pond last June, the last time we spoke with him. A gregarious, entertaining storyteller...
We are grateful for the kindness and help extended to us by this gentleman.

Black Partridge Woods February 2, 2019

2/7/2019

Black Partridge Saturday February 2

Perhaps it was other sites canceling, perhaps cabin fever after that pair of bitter cold days mid-week. Whatever the cause, we were blessed with a great turnout of volunteers Saturday morning, from home sites including Schiller and LaBagh, Thatcher, Arie Crown, Ted Stone, Sundown Meadow, probably others as well.

Saturday was also the 'last day of winter', with the thaw beginning that afternoon and accelerating Sunday and Monday. When we arrived at 9 you wouldn't have suspected. The snow-filled lot looking ready to swallow up a few cars, it was hard to imagine that several days later the thick white blanket would be gone.

Another week, more fires that started slowly. The leaf blower is as essential as boots and gloves on these days, and we put it to good use, finally stoking the fires and getting the cut pieces burned.. Our heart-felt thanks goes to everyone who came to help on this day!

A Tragedy in Five Acts

I noted the ephemeral nature of snow. That was well-illustrated last week.

Cranberry Slough January 26, Swallow Cliff January 27, 2019

1/31/2019

Cranberry Slough Saturday January 26
We had a smallish crew - augmented wonderfully by three sawyers and three helpers from Atrium Landscape, thank you Kathy Bruch! - thinning trees near the namesake slough. It was a cold start warming to 12 -14 F by afternoon. Our fires were reluctant so the leaf blower and propane tank were essential for the day's task.

Enough about the cold, I should emphasize what a truly beautiful day it was. Bright and sunny, a fresh dusting of snow, you can't go wrong with that combination...

Swallow Cliff Sunday January 27
Another small group, but, hey, it was still below zero when we started. We also had about three inches of fresh new snow, fluffy and light like confectioner's sugar. Cyndi had to open the parking lot when she arrived around 8:45.

Most impressed by Agustin who Ubered (that's a verb, isn't it?) his way to the site. Another reluctant fire which we finally were able to coax into providing heat, another increment of brush pushed back by lopper and bow saw.