Chicago Botanic Garden Summer 2019

Across the Preserves Restoration helps reset oak woodland Five years ago, invasive brush choked the grand old oaks in the Forest Pre- serves of Cook County’s Turnbull Woods—the same white and red oaks that once anchored an open woodland carpeted with grasses and wild owers. Decades of grazing, small acreage agri- culture, and re suppression created a dark thicket of buckthorn, sugar ma- ples, and honeysuckle. Just east of the Chicago Botanic Gar- den, Turnbull is now the county’s rst Forest Preserves land completely cleared of invasive brush—57 acres in total. Light streams through the tree canopy, nourishing penn sedge, trilli- um, and serviceberry that support the insects and birds critical to the success of this ecosystem. Restoration contractors and Green- corps Chicago—a jobs-training program for adults with barriers to employment and youth from under- served communities—removed inva- sive brush, reduced unnaturally dense tree growth, and treated other herba- ceous invasive species threatening the woods and wetlands. Prescribed burns were conducted to stimulate the native seed bank and hinder invasive re-sprouts. is work was supported by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Volunteers continue to work at Turn- bull, performing invasive removal and native seed collection and dispersal. Some of that seed is provided by the Chicago Botanic Garden and originat- ed in the McDonald Woods. You can walk through the revitalized landscape of Turnbull Woods on un- marked trails, starting from the parking area on Green Bay Road, south of Lake Cook Road. Or enjoy views of the newly restored woodland from the North Branch Trail between Green Bay Road and the Braeside Metra Station. is amazing transformation isn’t unique. Forest Preserves sta , partners including the Garden, and volunteers work together on critical ecological res- torations all over Cook County. We welcome you to join the restoration at Turnbull or any of the Forest Preserves’ dozens of ecological restoration sites. Learn more fpdcc.com/volunteer Forest Preserves General Superintendent Arnold Randall and Resource Management Director John McCabe visit the Greencorps Chicago crew at Turnbull Woods. Photo:Troy Showerman Not your kids’ campout Saturday, June 29 – Sunday, June 30 Find the great joy in nature in our summer campout for adults. Just relax or try yoga, board games, s’mores, or a bird walk. You deserve a break! For more information, see page 39.