LaBagh Woods Stewardship Update
by Katy Krigbaum
Gershwin famously wrote “Summertime, and the living is easy.” Not so at LaBagh—it is packed with a long to-do list! So far this summer, dedicated volunteers have tackled a multitude of important tasks during thirteen workdays in June and July, including:
Monitoring our plantings. (Now approaching 4,000!) We inventory them, remove weeds that overshadow them, repair fencing damaged by fallen ash trees, and water our new spring arrivals.
Removing invasives, including garlic mustard, (There was a bumper crop this year.) thistle, reed canary grass, and, of course, buckthorn.
Trailwork to encourage staying on trails even when the ground is muddy. This has created many areas which are a joy to traverse for adults and children alike.
Plantings from our first year (2015) tower over us. Some of our shrubs have matured to the point where they produce their own seeds and berries, which volunteers collect to share with other North Branch forest preserves and to have contract grown for LaBagh. Birds have taken note, too, with mixed flocks devouring the produce of our native shrubs.
LaBagh is one of the few areas where removed buckthorn is being replaced by native shrubs selected for their usefulness to birds. Many thanks to all of you who have donated your time and money to make this unique understory restoration a reality!
Come and join us at one of our upcoming workdays (https://www.chicagobirder.org/events). Please email labaghvolunteers@gmail.com to receive details. We would welcome you and your help.
