A SITE MONITOR'S STORY

by Jim Hoyt

n the previous  issue of "A Prairie Rendezvous," Gary Beland asked Stewards and Monitors of TNC/PGV/GPF to give others some idea of why our sites are so important to us.
In that case let me introduce myself.
I am what many people, from the large metropolitan areas, might call a townie. My family and the families of two paternal uncles have lived in Champaign-Urbana since 1920. My grandfather and great-uncle and many of thier sons helped to raise and train harness horses in and around what is now Busey Woods and The Champaign County Fair Grounds from the 20's through the 1950's. I had heard many memorable accounts relating the area's history.
My Dad often noted that he would love to show me Busey Woods. Unfortunately it was off limits to the general public while I was growing  up. Then the Urbana Park District aquired Busey Woods from the University. Many of my fondest memories include listening to Dad tell about these things as we tromped through the woods.
Busey Woods is a link to my past. I feel that working with its flora and fauna grounds my heart and soul and helps me to prepare for the future.
Later, many members of the Champaign Audubon Society graciously gave of their memories and bird lore while leading bird walks. Scott Simon (who I believe was the original TNC steward for Busey) invited me to the workdays. He and co-steward Kim Bauer encouraged me to learn more of the science of ecological restoration. I began to go on other workdays events around the area.
On these workdays many of the Stewards and members of TNC/GPF would patiently answer my many questions about thier sites. They have given me many free days of college-level instruction about field botany and history of the areas. More importantly I feel that I have made many new friends on these outings.

• Always wear long sleeves, pants, and shoes.
  
• Wear fresh clothing each day you work around poison ivy.
  
• Before going into the field, wash hands and arms thoroughly to above the elbow with soap and water and dry.
  
• Apply a liberal quantity of an oily substance (sunblock works well) to the washed area. This serves to fill the pores and serves to prevent entry of the toxic oil of the plant or to dilute its effects.
  
• When working in the field, be aware that your hands probably have the toxic oil on them. Avoid touching or scratching parts of your body that have not been covered with sunblock.
  

• As soon as you return to your vehicle, again wash hands and arms, and anywhere else you feel might have come into contact with the toxic oil, with soap and water. When dry, apply a liberal quantity of an oily substance (hand lotion this time - for that youthful looking skin)! Change outer clothing, as the toxic oil can continue to be transferred to your skin while you wear contaminated clothing.
  

TWIN CITY GARDEN CLUB HOSTS FLOWER SHOW

by Celeste Coverdill

n Saturday, September 7, 2002, at the Illinois Terminal, 45 E. University Ave., downtown Champaign, The Twin City Garden Club will present its Standard Flower Show, entitled "Falling into Autumn." The primary purpose of a Standard Flower Show is four-fold: 1) it is educational, 2) it stimulates interest in horticulture, 3) it provides an outlet for creative expression, and 4) it conveys to the community the objectives of the National State Garden Clubs, Inc. The club will be eligible to win a state and/or national award for the show.
The show consists of two divisions: Design and Horticulture. The Design Division contains five classes, each with a theme. The floral designs, placed by exhibitors, interpret the class themes. The Horticulture Division consists of horticulture exhibits and educational exhibits. The horticulture exhibits include specimens of house plants, garden flowers and plants, that must be grown by the individual exhibitors.
All floral and horticultural exhibits are judged by nationally accredited judges from around the state. They undergo rigorous training and are accredited by the National State Garden Clubs, Inc. The Standard System of Awarding is used. This allows for one first (blue), one second (red), and one third (yellow) to be awarded if merited; one or more honorable mentions (white) may be awarded if merited.
The Twin City Garden Club, established in 1930, is a member of District IV of the Garden Clubs of Illinois Inc., and the Central Region of National State Garden Clubs Inc. The club currently has about 50 members and holds monthly meetings, September through May. Membership in the club offers the opportunity for study in the fields of gardening, landscape design, floral design and flower show practice, as well as providing a source of information and practical advice about gardening indoors and out.

WE NEED A THEME
Grand Prairie Friends will be the organizing the Sixth Central Illinois Prairie Conference over the next year and a half.  We are looking for suggestions for conference themes and for a few committed people to organize speakers and oversee the arrangements for the conference.  The conference will be in September 2003 at Parkland College.  If you are interested in volunteering for the organizing committee, have questions, or have information that you'd like to pass on, please contact Heidi Leuszler, hleuszler@parkland.edu  or (217) 373-3734.

4

A Prairie Rendezvous

SUMMER 2002

A Prairie Rendezvous

5

Saturday June 23: Middle Fork Restoration Area. Brush cutting and weed control. Come help us with the ongoing work at our prairie/savanna/wetland restoration. Meet at APNC (see box, right) at 9:00am to carpool or at 10:00 at the site. Contact Brain Wilm for more info. (244-2176, 356-8581).

Sunday June 30: Windfall Prairie Nature Preserve. Bursting with rare flowers on the banks of the Middle Fork River, occurs one of the few remnants of hill prairies in Illinois. Join us as we meet to preserve this natural area by pulling sweet clover and other non-native invasive plants. Bring gloves, drinking water, and a snack. Meet at APNC (see box, right) at 9:00 am to carpool, or at the Lake Mingo parking lot in Kennekuk Cove County Park at 10:00 am. Contact Dave Ketzner (244-8821) for more information.

Saturday July 6: Fairchild Cemetery Savanna Nature Preserve. Join the effort to keep this rare savanna remnant healthy by removing non-native invasive species such as crown vetch and sweet clover. Bring gloves and drinking water. Meet at APNC (see box, right) at 8:30 am to carpool, or at the site at 9:30 am. Contact Ruth Sparks (643-7306) for more information.

Saturday July 13: Middle Fork Bluffs. Help pull garlic mustard and cut multiflora rose. Bring gloves, drinking water, and cutting tools if possible. Bring a snack too if you'd like. Meet at APNC (see box, right) at 9:00 am to carpool or at the Salt Kettle rest area at 10:00 am. This rest area is off I-74 just west of Danville. Contact Dan Busemeyer for more information (244-42470).

Saturday July 20: Shortline Railroad Prairie. Help restore this prairie remnant by removing non-native vegetation. Wear long sleeves, bring gloves and drinking water. Meet at 9:00 AM at APNC (see box, right) to carpool or 9:45 at the site. For more information contact Paul Marcum (333-8459, 892-9287).

Saturday July 20: Loda Prairie Nature Preserve. Work Party!!! Volunteers are needed to help clear wild parsnip and Queen Anne's lace at this spectacular mesic prairie remnant. You'll need work gloves and drinking water and bring loppers too, if you have them. Meet at Loda Cemetery at 9:00 am. Contact April DeAtley (H: 309-827-9607; email: just_plain_april@hotmail.com) for more information.

Saturday August 24: Loda Prairie Nature Preserve. Work Party!!! Volunteers are needed to help clear wild parsnip and Queen Anne's lace at this spectacular mesic prairie remnant. You'll need work gloves and drinking water and bring loppers too, if you have them. Meet at Loda Cemetery at 9:00 am. Contact April DeAtley (H: 309-827-9607, email: just_plain_april@hotmail.com) for more information.

Saturday September 28: Patton Woods. 9:45 to 11:15 am. All are welcome! Help preserve this diverse woodland. Activities will include trail maintenance, brush clearing, and some litter pickup. Wear gloves, and bring pruners, or rakes if you have them. Bring drinking water and a snack if you'd like. Meet on site at 9:45 am or at Parkland College parking lot B-1 at 9:00 am. Contact Earl Creutzburg (wk: 351-2371, hm: 328-2375) for more information. Directions to the site: From C-U head north on either I-57 or US 45 to US 136. Go east on 136 to Gifford then north on County Rd. 2300E about 6 miles to the T-intersection with 3600N (County Line Rd.) Head east on the County Line Rd about 2 miles to 2500E. Go south on 2500N about 1/4 mile to Patton Wood's entrance.

In this issue…

• A Site Monitor's Story
  
• Dealing with Poison Ivy
  
• Restoration Poetry