So, last time we left off with marine plants creating enough oxygen to create an ozone layer in the atmosphere. This blocked the UV radiation that made life on land impossible. Algae colonized wet areas on land, followed by primitive plants without roots or vascular systems. All land plants descended from these early colonizers, with…
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See the largest prairie in Illinois. Wear sturdy boots, pants and be prepared for ticks and chiggers. After visit the Twisted Anchor in Wilmington for drinks, food and conversation.
See rare dolomite prairie and plants. Sturdy boots and relatively short, level walk. Ticks and chiggers. Retire to Twisted Anchor afterward.
See sand savannas and wetlands. Wear sturdy, long pants and bootsfor sandy trails with some off trail on nearly level ground. Expect ticks and chiggers.
Come see some of the biggest prairie in Illinois at Heidecke Lake. Ticks, chiggers and off trail walking. Who could ask for more. Cool off at Carson’s Tap House (823 Liberty St) in Morris afterward.
Sand Ridge Savanna Nature Preserve walk, meet at Kankakee Sands (Will County) parking lot 10 a.m. Boots, sturdy pants, bug spray and lots of off trail walking.
Meet at McKinley Woods Forest Preserve for a 10 a.m. walk to see green flowers and lovely views. Retire for food, drinks and conversation afterward.
McKinley Woods FP On Sunday, April 6, I went to McKinley Woods to see how the wildflowers are looking. No prescribed burn this year so the display is less showy and more uneven than usual as many plants are delayed trying to come up through the leaves, while bare ground and south facing areas are…
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Members went to Braidwood Dunes and Savanna on a lovely Sunday, July 21 st . But for me andVlad Nevirkovets, the excitement started before the field trip. Vlad had contacted me a fewdays before the field trip with the news that he had found the state endangered PrairieQuillwort (Isoetes melanopoda) at Braidwood Dunes and Savanna…
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Langham Island Field Trip: On June 29 th the KNK Torrent Chapter went to Langham Island to see one ofthree (?) species known only from Illinois (a.k.a. endemic). One is the American Fairy Lantern (Thismiaamericana), which was last seen at its only known home near Lake Calumet in 1916. Another, theSangamon Phlox (Phlox pilosa var.…
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