dune and swale

Sand Ridge, Calumet City, IL • July 2025

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In recent years, I’ve visited Sand Ridge more often in the early spring, to locally see skunk cabbages and ephemerals. On this day in July, it’s rainy and overgrown with the amorphous green of a late summer urban woodland.

In the rain, the amorphous green belies the competition in front of us: just out of frame,

the hedge bindweed vine is twisting up Phragmites, taking down and smothering this towering invasive plant. Living the vine life is just about spreading out and getting as much leaf area in sun as fast as possible. Think kudzu, bindweed, invasive Fallopia.

I’ve been visiting the same fen orchids at Sand Ridge for a few years now in different seasons. Note to self – remember that late-July is likely too late to see them in flower!

The swamp mallow are just starting to flower. In another few weeks, either side of the boardwalk will be profusely fuchsia!

An assortment of other plant friends (and enemies!) on the trail:

Powderhorn, Chicago IL • April 2025

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Powderhorn encompasses a vast tract of land, owned and managed by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, on the far southeast side of Chicago. It’s a stocked lake with fishers all year round, an award-winning remnant dune and swale habitat,

a to-be-acquired industrial lot with rail tankers, a railroad track lined with Phragmites, and disused land in a residential district made into an urban sponge that captures rainwater and drains it in to the lake. Altogether, it makes a really nice urban greenspace

that works with the land and hydrology and habitats, and enhances what they already are (minus some invasive species and plus some light mowing). Check out this terrific Storymap about the most recent restoration project!

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We saw lots of evidence of beavers!

and other wildlife — like this osprey on a nest on a human-constructed osprey tower!

Sand Ridge, Calumet City, IL • April 2023

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It’s that time of year again – spring ephemerals at Sand Ridge. They never get old.

upland woodland friends, sprouting from under the oak leaves.

here’s the hummocks that enable the fen orchid

this little wetland is on sandy soil in a swale among the aspens.

a younger grove is undergoing restoration and in a decade or so, may harbor high quality orchids and sedges like this one.