Spring 2002

This special place features spring wildflowers, dry gravel prairie, local history— and is a birder's paradise

Kane County, Illinois

Imagine enjoying a spring wildflower walk in the woods and a peaceful visit to a prairie in one outing! Such a "two-fer" is guaranteed at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve. Blue cohosh, doll’s eyes, carpets of trout lily and toothwort adorn the mixed-deciduous woodlands, while shooting star, blue-eyed grass, bird’s foot violet, and hoary puccoon bedeck Horlock Hill Prairie. Fringed puccoon and wood betony thrive in re-created areas.

A birder’s paradise, LeRoy Oakes provides the ideal habitat for kingbirds, meadowlarks, bobolinks and various other grassland birds. Woodcocks use Horlock Hill Prairie as strutting grounds for courtship displays around mid-March, from about 15 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunset.

Named for St. Charles’ athlete and civic leader LeRoy Oakes, the 264-acre preserve — previously a farm — is an impressive tribute to this local hero. Hiking, bicycling and horseback riding are permitted on designated trails amid the 85 acres of woods, 30 acres of wetlands and approximately 30 acres of prairie. A one-mile paved trail, three-mile equestrian trail and eight-mile mowed path provide ample access.

Bisected by Dean Street, the north side of the preserve contains the bulk of LeRoy Oakes’ land. Entering the front gate, one is greeted by tall grass mesic and dry gravel prairie, a smattering of pine trees, the ranger’s farmhouse, a house, a relocated schoolhouse and a large red barn. Going deeper into the north side of the preserve, one sees gently rolling hills laden with ironwood, elm, cherry, black walnut, maple, red, white, and bur oaks and several varieties of hickory. Forty acres of floodplain forest north of Ferson Creek (not accessible by trail) contain native prickly ash, ninebark, a few viburnums and the only native colony of speckled alder. With more than 130 feet of elevation difference from crest to creek, the rolling landscape offers some lovely views.

For the history buff, Durant-Peterson house offers a wonderful jaunt back to 1843 when a young couple decided to build their home in the bountiful Illinois wilds. Locally harvested butternut framing and flooring stand as sentinels to this bygone era. Durant-Peterson house is open to the public every Sunday from 1:00 — 4:00 p.m. June — October and every Thursday from 1:00 — 4:00 p.m. June — August.

Pioneer Sholes School is a historic schoolhouse which was moved to LeRoy Oakes in 1979. Following two years of restoration, the building opened for school classes in 1981. It is also open on Sundays corresponding with the Durant-Peterson house schedule. The Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley operate both facilities. For reservations, call (630) 377-6424. For more information about Pioneer Sholes School, see the Web site or call (630) 762-9746.

The south side of the preserve boasts Horlock Hill Prairie, a two-acre, high-quality xeric (dry) gravel hill prairie and dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve. The Great Western Trail, that extends 17 miles from St. Charles to Sycamore, is adjacent to Horlock Hill Prairie. Restoration work began 30 years ago, led by St. Charles High School science teacher Bob Horlock with the help of his students. Used by the Natural Areas Survey as a template for evaluating dry prairies statewide, Horlock Hill Prairie is indeed a treasure worth exploring. "Horlock Hill is one in a handful of sites that contain 10 state endangered and threatened plants," said Drew Ullberg, Forest Preserve District of Kane County habitat restoration manager.

Restoration work continues at Horlock Hill Prairie as well as other areas of LeRoy Oaks. Contact Shelly Brown, Forest Preserve District of Kane County volunteer coordinator at (847) 741-9798 for workday details. — April Anderson

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