Check out progress at Baker's Lake

Citizens for Conservation would like to share with the community news about the continued progress of its restoration efforts at the Baker's Lake preserve, the fascinating area at Route 14 and Hillside Avenue in Barrington.

Weed control goes on through the work of volunteers and interns pulling yellow and white sweet clover, teasel, wild parsnip and garlic mustard.

We've made significant progress in brush cutting. Our volunteers have done detailed work on the previously cleared south end. We also hired contractors to conduct large scale clearing of buckthorn and honeysuckle on both the far east and west boundary of Baker's Lake. The cleared areas have been sown with native plant seeds.

Having just completed the early spring controlled burn, we are pleased to report that the restoration efforts are really paying off -- native wildflowers bloom all through the growing season from the bloodroot of mid-April and the shooting stars in May to the stiff gentians of late September.

We discovered a new rare plant, the broad-leaved panic grass. Other rarities like yellow pimpernel, Michigan lily, pale Indian plantain, mullein foxglove and cream gentian are thriving.

On April 1, when the ice on Baker's Lake finally melted, 10 volunteers and three Forest Preserve staff took 250 recycled Christmas trees to the island in Baker's Lake, where they were pruned and placed to provide nests The egrets in particular will appreciate the extra trees in the crib south of the island which is their preferred nesting area

Please feel free to contact Citizens for Conservation at 847-382-SAVE (7283) if you would like a wildflower or butterfly tour to inspect the results of our ecological restoration. It think citizens in the area will be delighted to know the progress that has been made.

Jim Vanderpoel

Arlington Heights