Outings

David Whitmore, our host.

Bull Creek runs through it.
The site initially chosen for their magnificent home turned out to have peaty, hydric soils over 20 feet deep, so they impounded the creek to make this pond instead.

Upgrade from the pond is a big wetland where arrowhead plants and these beautiful pickerelweed aquatics thrive and bloom.

Continuing our hike to higher ground took us to woods where David has been busy clearing buckthorn. Here we stand beneath a 300 year old oak tree he liberated - but not before the buckthorns killed its lower branches.

This two and a half inch Hummingbird moth was busy sipping nectar from the profuse Bergamot flowers.

Hummingbird moth close-up. This huge moth is treasured for its long proboscis, uniquely capable of pollinating some rare flowers.

Marshall Field's prairie has been intensively restored over the last 20 years by volunteers through a partnership with the Nature Conservancy. A Compass plant blooms yellow, and Wild Quinine white.

Another view of Marshall Field's prairie. Here Rattlesnake Master and Black Eyed Susan are also seen in bloom.

The woods bordering this generous prairie are distinctly different, and their cleared understory welcome other flowers. We saw Wild Onion, and spent spring ephemerals including Jack in the Pulpit and Shooting Stars.

Thanks to the Liberty Prairie Conservancy's Sarah Surroz for arranging this private tour, and for setting out this relaxing repose with fruit, drink, and snacks! We learned from her that the LPC is actively engaged in helping landowners express their environmental ethic while reducing their tax burdens through environmental easements.

In the center is Jim, who helped key out (identify) plants we saw.

Lounging participants.

The Field's "Cottage."

Blue Vervain

Arrowheads grow above marooned waterlily.

Close-up

Grand Pickerelweed

"Swamp house"

Great Egret

Close-up

Swamp Milkweed.

??

These delightful bridges span the wetlands to access the back of the Whitmore property.

The Whitmores, with Sarah in the center.

Our group gathers.

Middlefork Savanna stretches out to the southwest.

Joe Pye milkweed (possibly Marsh milkweed) .

"Dangerous Beauty" invasive Purple Loosestrife.

The middle fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River. Part of the Savanna was farmed, and this portion of the river channelized where it ran through the farmland. Future plans may include re-meandering this reach to restore the aquatic health to the river.

Channelization and banks overgrown with invasive buckthorn leads to stream bank erosion. But here Arrowhead in the water and well covered banks evidence recovery since the buckthorn was removed.

Yet, the water remains murky, which denies the ability of native fishes the ability to find food.

We stop on a bridge crossing a tributary from the west near its confluence with the Middlefork to discuss how development of the Dalitch property with a Costco could harm the waters on the Middlefork Savanna forever.

A view toward the confluence. Presently, the tributary stream is pretty healthy. Fed by wetlands on the newly acquired property N of the Dalitch property, the flow is moderated, and pollutants removed.

Dense native flora and clean water in the tributary. If Lake Forest permits large areas of blacktop and rooftop to build a Costco on the Dalitch property, more pollutants will be swept into this tributary, and spoil it.

A better view of the confluence. If the tributary is degraded, the chances of recovery of the Middlefork will be lost.

Rushes are round.

Beyond this stand of oaks, which comprise part of the the savanna ecosystem, is the Dalitch property.

Liatris spicata: Prairie Blazing Star. A welcome native not to be confused with Loosestrife.

Jeff Walter, Sierra Club intern, explains what can be done to protect the Middlefork Savanna.

A regional drought has dried out the wetlands in the center of the Preserve, but the deep-rooted plants still grow and bloom.

Welcome rain clouds roll in, and we dash to escape cloud-to-ground lightning danger.

Marsh Milkweed photo snapped on the hasty retreat.