Nature Preserve field rep Kim Roman realized, as we - The Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves - finished that day's work at Goose Lake - that perhaps there was an opportunity to burn the Cemetery. We had enough trained leaders and equipment. She seized the time, and we did it!
As you look at the photos below, realize that this site was once open prairie! The natural ecosystem here has no trees, or perhaps a few widely spaced and fire-pruned oaks. Thus, despite the burn, we still have some work to do!
Here are the photos:
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| We raked firebreaks around the edge, donned fire-resistant clothes, and lit the burn with a drip torch. There's little prairie vegetation surviving along the edge, as this area was dark from the shade of dense shrubs, which the intrepid volunteers cut during our previous "work party" here. |
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| Along the west edge, the crew had to crash through as-yet-uncut brush. At least there's some surviving grassland vegetation in this photo. |
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| The fire was patchy at best. Shade had reduced the natural vegetation drastically, but there are indications that most species survive here and there. The brush cutting and fire are a renewed lease on life. 2020 will be a great recovery year for Short Cemetery Prairie. |
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| After the burn, back in civilian clothes, everyone felt great! (And we believe the prairie was starting to feel great too!) |
We look forward to the next time we'll be able to work here and at Goose Lake. For up-to-date info, and new events when we can schedule them, check out the website of Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves
One last graphic ... what we're looking forward to more of ... previous years' photos from this Nature Preserve by Mark Kluge:
Beautiful! Thank you!
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