Tag: nature
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Big Jump and Orland Tract at The Nature Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands – A Comparison Post Five Years Following Woody Invasive Species Control
Contents Introduction Big Jump Map Images From Big Jump 1. Burn scar near work area 2. A closer view of the burn scar Discussion 3a. Controlled invasive bush honeysuckle with a wall of multiflora rose in the background 3b. Area above after forestry mowing 4a. Thicket of multiflora rose 4b. Above area after forestry mowing…
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Soil Crust
Draft: I plan to add more images later Bluff Spring Fen Map of Areas Visited 1. Moss growing on small ridge 2. Wider view showing small ridge. The slight increase in elevation helps keep leaves blowing in the wind from depositing. 3. Moss growing on infrequently used trail. People walking keep the trail relatively free…
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Busse Woods 1/10/2026 Failure of a Restoration Group
Contents Map Introduction Workday Location 1. Area cleared of common buckthorn ten years ago Sumac Expansion 2. Expanding patch of staghorn sumac 3. Closer view 4. An even closer view 5. Sumac stems scorched by fire Soil 6. Soil profile Hickories Top Killed 7. Hickories that regrew after fire Sedge 8. Carex albursina Map Introduction…
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Winter Fire 12/21/2025
Contents Downspout Garden Tree Underplanting Woody Species Control Weather Conditions Future After a previous post, “Fire’s Impact on Moss in a Prairie Planting,” I wanted to see if I could burn in a manner that would reduce impacts. I had previously burned at below freezing temperatures. The brown-dead tips of Carex sprengelii burned off, leaving…
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Bluff Spring Fen Winter Scenes 12/14/2025
The high for the day was only 10 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill below zero. Most volunteer workdays in the region were canceled. I was hoping to see “sea smoke” rise from the water. The springs have a constant temperature of 50 degrees F. This difference in temperature should have been more than enough. Still,…
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Orland Grassland 2/3/2025
Websites with information about the preserve are included below. https://www.orlandgrassland.org/ https://volunteer-fpdcc.givepulse.com/event/414052-orland-grassland-stewardship-volunteer-days https://fpdcc.com/places/locations/orland-grassland/ https://dnr.illinois.gov/inpc/lwr-display.orland-grassland%C2%A0.html Summary Map Images From Site 1. Meeting location according to FPCC volunteer website. 2. Sign at Old Farm Road Trail entrance. 3. View beyond cable gate at Old Farm Road Trail entrance. 4. Looking toward Bobolink Hill. 5. Looking up Bobolink Hill…
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Skokie River Nature Preserve 1/25/2025
Descriptions of this preserve can be viewed at the following sites. https://dnr.illinois.gov/inpc/area.area2lakeskokieriver.html Summary Map Images From Site 1. View from parking lot toward bike trail 2. Preserve Entrance 3. Monument Rock 4. Aspen encroaching on prairie that had been controlled by girdling. 5. McLaughlin Meadow 6. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) and Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) along southern…
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Drought Impacts on Prairie Plants
Drought impacts on prairie plants at the Shoe Factory Road Nature Preserve in Poplar Creek are shown.
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Illinois Beach State Park Summer Burn Follow Up Observations
Areas about seven weeks after a summer burn are shown along with the same areas the following year. Also shown are areas that did not receive a summer burn for comparison. At the end of this post are other posts on this blog about Illinois Beach State Park. Summary Image Captions 1. Carolina Puccoon (Lithospermum…
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Baker’s Lake, Barrington Park Campgrounds, 5/27/2024
Barrington Park Campgrounds is one of the best remaining examples of savanna in the Barrington Area. Citizens for Conservation had been managing the site. They control invading woody species and conduct prescribed fire to return this missing ecosystem process back into several area preserves. Summary Map Pretty Pictures Erigeron philadelphicus and comparison images from August…
Stewardship Chronicles 