We have to take a break from Crowley for a little while so we're going to be switching to Irish Oaks to make up for some of the bad weather days we've had lately. We'll be revisiting an area near the pond on the west end of the property to work on removing the buckthorn and […]
It's time for our "Final" Friday brush clearing event with Kim!!! We'll be taking out invasive honeysuckle and oriental bittersweet along the property boundaries. Directions: When you turn off of Fleming road the driveway splits into 4; take the second driveway from the left. Park along the circle driveway by the house. Nearest address: 1312 S. Fleming Rd. […]
This property is part of a 93 acre continuous stretch of woodland preserved by Al Van Maren and MCCD - formerly known as Community Research Forest. As we've cleared away the invasive brush much of the ground layer seems eager to rebound with native species that have been dormant in the seed bank. We'll meet […]
Vernal pools are a little known but extremely important feature that occurs in our McHenry County oak woods. Come learn why these pools are essential for amphibians and other creatures, like fairy shrimp! Dress to get muddy and dirty. Signs will be posted for parking. Date: Saturday, April 29, 10-11:30 a.m. Location: Harvard (registered participants […]
Join the exceptionally cool David Ducci for one of our last workdays at Westwood before the summer hits. A local boy scouts troop will be joining us so we could use more sawyers this day to keep all of those extra hands busy! Directions: From Woodstock, take South Street southwest out of town and over 14. After you […]
Come check out a new(ish) TLC site! Slough Creek Wetland is approximately 83 acres of wetland, sedge meadow and wet prairie located in the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge corridore and adjacent to Slough Creek Fen Nature Reserve. This site was donated to us in 2020 and it's time to begin the radical restoration transformation! There's also a […]
These workdays are hosted by our extraordinary steward, Margee Pieper, who has been a vital part of the successes at this site. Under her thoughtful leadership, the history and beauty of Irish oaks is finally revealed for everyone to enjoy. By this time we'll be well on our way to clearing brush over on the "island" so this will likely […]
Join TLC on a wildflower identification walk. We’ll take you through a high-quality woodland, help you learn a little about each wildflower, and provide identification tips. Registration is required. Dress for muddy springtime trails! Date: Saturday, May 6, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Location: Spring Hollow Nature Preserve, Woodstock (address will be emailed to registered participants) Fee: […]
Join TLC on a wildflower identification walk. We’ll take you through a high-quality woodland, help you learn a little about each wildflower, and provide identification tips. Registration is required. Dress for muddy springtime trails!
Join Larry for another restoration adventure at Crowley Oak Woods! Restoration has been occurring on this 80 acre tract since the winter of 2020 and we're making excellent progress clearing the brush from the highest quality areas of the preserve. We conducted our first prescribed burn here this spring and the ground layer has responded in a really […]
Come on out to join Pete for a Wolf Oak reunion and a worthy cause! Like last year, we'll be teaming up with students from Woodstock High School to hand pull garlic mustard that is popping up amongst the spring ephemerals that are blooming. This is an aggressive biennial plant which means it completes its life cycle […]
Join Larry for another restoration adventure at Crowley Oak Woods! Restoration has been occurring on this 80 acre tract since the winter of 2020 and we're making excellent progress clearing the brush from the highest quality areas of the preserve. We conducted our first prescribed burn here this spring and the ground layer has responded in a really […]
