A group of about 70 volunteers and representatives from the Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves and Nature Conservancy kicked off an effort last weekend to restore and preserve the Gensburg-Markham Prairie in Markham.
Surrounded by expressways and suburban homes, the prairie escaped waves of suburban development in the 20th century and was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1980.
It is one of five Indian Boundary Prairies, a cluster of ancient landscape remnants that are regarded as a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Indian grass, little bluestem and cordgrass can be found there, along with small sundrops, narrow-leaved sundew and the endangered eastern prairie white fringed orchid, according to the Nature Conservancy which jointly owns and manages the Markham prairies along with Northeastern Illinois University.
These and other prairie plants provide an ideal habitat for hundreds of pollinators and insect species including bunchgrass skippers and dreamy dusky wing butterflies. Gray foxes are said to reside here along with reptiles like the smooth green snake and eastern milk snake, as well as numerous birds, including the Virginian rail, Henslow’s sparrow, bobolink and eastern meadowlark.
On this warm, sunny Saturday, beneath a brilliant blue sky, the volunteers gathered at 10 a.m. to cut away woody plants thought to be setting the stage for forest encroachment.
Fanning out from a large circle in the middle of the 181-acre preserve, they cut shrubs and saplings down to stubble and gathered them for burning on a single crackling smoking pile, which grew larger as the morning progressed.
The main culprit organizers identified was black chokeberry, but other problematic plants included willows and aspens.
Black chokeberry is considered a prairie shrub and native to the sandy soils of northeastern Illinois, but it’s become too much of a good thing at the Gensburg-Markham Prairie, according to event organizers. The plant belongs to a genus of deciduous shrubs called Aronia.
“Many land preserves in Cook County do work to preserve Aronia since it is rare,” said David Lynn, volunteer for Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves. ”Usually, fire would keep Aronia in check. However, at some point the stand at MGP got too thick and overgrown. There isn’t enough fuel to burn the Aronia, since it is shading out…the grasses, so the prairie is out of balance. Our hope is to restore that balance in order to make prescribed fire more effective in the future.”
Black chokeberry took over a good portion of quality sand prairie at Markham-Gensburg, Lynn said, but it isn’t as much of a problem at other portions of the site composed of black soil prairie.
“The chokeberry is just very happy where it is, but we need to manage to keep it from taking over,” he said.
Jess Powers, a book seller from Bridgeport, carefully applied herbicide to remaining stubble to prevent the plants from returning this spring.
“It’s nice to feel I’m having a direct impact on changing the landscape in a good way,” she said.
A volunteer for Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves since last August, she wore black plastic gloves to protect her hands. Having obtained training and a one-year certificate that qualifies her to apply herbicide, she operated under the supervision of Jonothan Sabath, a field representative with the group.
Sabath, who holds a herbicide applicator’s license issued through the Illinois Department of Agriculture, described Powers’ precise applications of glyphosate, as “chemotherapy for the prairie.”
While this work was essential for controlling black chokeberry, Sabath suggested it was even more important that the event was bringing community engagement and volunteer stewardship to this prairie and other special spaces among Illinois’ 600 nature preserves.
Noah Hornack, volunteer for Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, was more than happy to be part of that effort. Besides helping curb woody growth, at other times the native seed technician gathers seed and reseeds other native preserve areas.
He too mentioned the importance of grasses and sedges for making prairies more likely to burn and more resistant to forest encroachment. “Prairie dropseed, big bluestem, little bluestem and panic grass are all good for this location because they carry fire well,” he said.
Sheba Abernathy, a resident of Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, serves as volunteer steward at Superior Street Prairie, a remnant prairie in Calumet City. She founded the Need An Angel Sons and Daughters Association, which encourages young people to volunteer in community projects. “I’ve always had a heart for youth, and I brought a couple of members here today,” she said.
Abernathy worked tirelessly with elementary school student McKenzie Baker and her mother, Shay Baker.
Not far from them, Johnah Haskins of Mokena stood watch near the burn pile, making sure the fire remained under control.
Haskins works part time for the Hitts Siding Nature Preserve in Will County and is qualified to conduct controlled burns, also to handle a chain saw for tree felling. He has volunteered for the last five years for the Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves.
In that time, he said, he has grown accustomed to the rhythm of the seasons and what is needed for maintaining wild ecosystems.
“Brush clearing is usually done in winter,” he said. “Which is good because you have to stay with the fire until it burns away, and you can use it to stay warm. Summers are for applying herbicide and seed collecting.”
When asked about the furry seed clinging to his knit hat, he inspected it and said, “Desmodian. That’s a nightmare, it will just cover you. But it’s not harmful. It’s native.”
Riley Lynch, a Logan Square artist who works at a fabrication plant, came with coworkers Al Louise from Wicker Park and Nic Rusick from Ravenswood.
The idea behind their volunteering at this event, Lynch said, was to, ”go back to natural influences and gather appreciation for things around us.”
“I grew up in Illinois,” said Rusick. “Illinois is the prairie state, and this just seemed like an Illinois thing to do.”
After two hours of brush clearing, the group converged for snacks around the fire and made plans to meet once a week at the prairie entrance located at 15700 S. Whipple. Their next restoration event is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, March 18.
More information on joining the group is with Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves volunteer David Lynne at dalynn88@gmail.com.
Susan DeGrane is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
