Anniversary Oak and area (native gardens and 15 planted Burr Oaks)

1994

Extremely degraded.  Dense, mature Buckthorns 50 years old.  Some plants noticed: Sedges, Blue Flag Iris, 2 swamp Milkweed, Black Eyed Susan, Golden Alexander, Starry False Solomon’s Seal, Tall Goldenrod.

Trees:

(1998) Cut Buckthorn, thin Green Ash, professionally trim Anniversary Oak tree, plant two-year old Burr Oaks in lawn area.

(2001) Prune young planted Oaks – 2 had first acorns

(June 2001) Boy Scout Eagle Project cut the last Buckthorns in the area.  Fences made from logs along West and North edges.

(2002-04) All mature Buckthorns gone; mow and pull baby Buckthorns throughout. Almost all of the American Elms (20) have died from Dutch Elm Disease. Canopy is opening up nicely. Tree of Heaven has come in.

Shrubs:   

(1998) Prune Nannyberries and collect seed, planted along wood edge, some donated to The Grove.  Protect from deer with 4-ft. fence. 

(2001) Two Elderberry shrubs noticed, probably bird planted.

(2002) Young Nannyberries spreading along South border.

(2002) New shrub established along South border with Nannyberries (somac like, not identified yet)

(2003-2004) Elderberries to be caged. Deer keep eating. Nannyberries healthy and spreading because of a good source of sunlight.

Vines:

(1998) Grapes controlled.  Oriental Bittersweet covering Nannyberries cut and herbicided.

(2002) Grapes under control with burning and pulling.

(2002) Bittersweet still present – cut and herbicide

(2003-04) Bittersweet almost under control.

Plants:

(1998)  Rescued prairie plants planted along south edge (Rat-Master, Liatus Aspera, Rosa Blanda, Carolina, Rosinweed, and Switchgrass.

(1998) Wetland – Planted Obedient Plant, Rudbekia Laciniata, Cordgrass, Cup Plant.

(2002-2003) West Edge – Smooth and New England Aster, Naked Sunflower.

(2002-2003) Pull Tall and Grass Leaved Goldenrod.

Seeds:   

(1995) Initial seeding along south and east edges with Grasses and forbs.

(1999) Strip of grass killed long south edge and planted with prairie seed. 

(1998-2001) Woodland grasses and conservative forbs along central road fencing.

(2002) West edge planted with Prairie and Woodland seeds.

(2003-04) 6-ft band of grass killed on south and west edge that was planted in prairie.

Weeds:  

(1998) Garlic Mustard, English and Common Plantain, Curly Dock, Canada Thistle, Creeping Charlie, Reed Canary grass.

(2002) English Plantains, Creeping Charlie, Canada Thistle a problem along the South edge.

(2003-04) Plantains, Creeping Charlie, Canada Thistle still a problem but diminishing.

Burn:  

(1999) South and Central area, 2000 Throughout-spotty.

(Spring 2001) Throughout – 50% burned well.

(Spring 2002) Throughout - Spotty

Other:

(1998) Prarie seed gardens planted in mulch areas of dead trees – plants and seeds.

(1999-2000) Deer exclosures made in southeast area

(2001) 15 Burr Oaks planted South and West of Anniversary Oak. (a couple may be Swamp white Oak.  All locally grown from seed planted when two-years old.  (from Northbrook) (all surviving)

(2001) Plants and seed added to large mulch rings of seven Oaks along south edge of Anniversary Oak .

(2002) Deer exclosures removed; Deer repellent sprayed on Forbs (hot sauce)

(2002) No repellents sprayed as test.

(2002-2003) Seed gardens expanded.

(2003) Deer exclosures dismantled.  Will try to protect small colonies of plants with deer eat targeted.

(2003-2004) Some seed gardens doing well and expanded, while seven gardens having trouble from accidental weed spraying.

(2003) Plants (mostly Michigan Lily) will continue.

(Fall 2001) Almost complete herbaceous ground cover, (excluding far northwest corner).  Nice mixture of Savannah, wetland and prairie plants developing.  Woodland grasses in central and west area, Forbes along south and east edges.

(2001-2002) Seed collected for other campus seeding – Wood Reed, Virginia Rye, Bottlebrush grass, White Snakeroot, Joe Pye, Yellow Hyssops, Tall Bellflower, Figwort, Foxglove Mullein, Cup plant, Nodding Wild Onion, Nannyberry, Fringed Loosestrife, Silky Rye, Orange and Red Triosteum, Drummond's Aster.

Students able to collect seed and burn.

Nannyberries spreading and regaining health

(2002) Area emerging as nice grassland. Produced 5 gallon buckets of Virginia Rye Seed.

(2003-04) – Two varieties of Triosteums, Foxglove Mullein, Michigan Lily and Whorled Loosestrife emerged from seed bank.

(1998) Some aggressive seeded Forbs White Snakeroot and Joe Pye are being controlled to promote grasses and more conservative Forbs.  Seeding method is now changed because of this.  Areas are left for a year to see how seed bank responds before supplemental seeding.

(2002) Joe Pye is more in check.  White Snakeroot somewhat of a problem.  Controlled by removing as much of seed as possible. 

(2002) Bidens still prevalent, but waning. An annual that will be outcompeted through time.

(2003-04) White Snakeroot and Joe Pye Settling Down. Bidens from seed bank forming dense colonies along Central (native) may want to thin next year.

(2003-04) Bidens also settling down as other plants come in.

(2000-01)  Young American Elms all dying from Dutch Elm disease, further opening canopy for better herbaceous layer recovery.

Planted oaks in lawn producing seed – 8 years old.

Seed gardens thriving.

(2002) Mature Buckthorns now gone. Seed bank of Buckthorns still a problem, but gaining control through burning and cutting.

(2003-04) The area is maturing and becoming very diverse.