Spring 2003

Many different ecosystems in a small area results in abundant and diverse plant life, winding through stream corridors, woodlands, and fens

Kendall County, Illinois

Combined with the ecologically inseparable Lyon Forest Preserve to the north, Richard Young Forest Preserve in Kendall County covers a modest 140 acres. But with nearly 500 identified plant species, that's where the modesty of these flora-packed preserves ends. "The plant list here is so long because there are so many different ecosystems in such a tight area," explains Jason Pettit, executive director of the Forest Preserve District.

Two trails lead north from the Richard Young Forest Preserve parking lot through high-quality, remnant stream corridors, woodlands, and fens. One footpath crosses Lyon Creek and heads either north along the creek or east to a loop through a small, tightly entwined prairie and fen ecosystem. The loop circles through brown-eyed Susans, cinnamon willow herb, Indian grass, whorled milkweeds, sedges, rushes, and a variety of goldenrods. These species comprise a prairie ecosystem that recolonized after topsoil was removed for roadwork. On the outer edges of the loop, a wetter area accommodates riverbank wild rye, dark green rush, and other rushes and sedges.

"It is kind of fun waiting to see what's going to come up in various places in here," explains the preserve's namesake, Dick Young, a longtime resident of Kendall County who helped petition for the establishment of the county's forest preserve district in the 1960s. (A widely recognized expert on Chicagoland flora, Young has also been honored with another preserve in Kane County that bears his name.)

A footpath cuts north along the creek, through a floodplain filled with oak, hickory, and ash. This section has benefited from restoration work aimed at returning it to open woodland. A second limestone trail leaves the parking lot and follows the west side of the creek to a shelter and scenic overlook. From the overlook, the varied topography of these two preserves is evident. Although it may appear to be a glacial feature, the deep, unevenly chiseled landscape was formed by gradual stream erosion. The slow-growing ironwood, an understory tree whose lower branches rot and drop off after 25 to 30 years, resides here, as does musclewood, which is found in dry knolls in the wetter areas.

Both trails meet at Hepatica Hill where, on a sunny day, the white bark of a towering sycamore pops out against the blue sky. Along with the hepatica grow fragile fern and bellwort, shaded by gnarly chinquapin oaks. North of the hill, the trail crosses into Lyon Forest Preserve, named for an historically prominent Kendall County family, and leads into a miniature savanna-prairie where blazing star and big bluestem flourish side by side. Further along, sumac, pagoda dogwood, and hazelnut, with its little pink blossoms, fill in above the one-flowered cancer-root.

To the north, a boardwalk skirts along Lyon Fen. "This area is really rich in biodiversity," comments Young. Warm groundwater seeps out of the ground 365 days a year at several spots along the side of the hill. The water that pours through this raised seep is at a constant temperature and pH, an ideal fen environment for meadow and other sedges, turtlehead, verbena, fen cattails, and wet varieties of goldenrod.

The many footpaths that meander through Lyon Forest Preserve eventually meet and form one eastward path that leads from savanna to a particularly diverse shrub layer in the higher mesic and dry woodlands.

Amenities at the Richard Young Forest Preserve parking lot include a shelter, fire pit, and latrines. Nature programs are held at the two preserves throughout the year. In addition, the Kendall County Forest Preserve District welcomes individuals interested in helping natural resource management efforts at the preserve. For additional information, or for a copy of the district's newsletter, contact Jason Pettit at (630) 553-4131.

— Jayne Bohner