Summer 1999

Native woodland site being restored within the Chicago Botanic Garden

Cook County, Illinois

Mary Mix McDonald Woods, located within the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, is being restored to its former glory as a native oak woodland. Named for the much-revered former member of the Cook County Board, Mary Mix McDonald, these 100 acres are home to a surprising diversity of plants, as well as insects, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians — and if scientists, horticulturists, and volunteers have their way, McDonald Woods will soon become a healthy refuge for even more of its now rare original native species.

Staff and volunteers at the Botanic Garden are working to restore the woods to a biologically diverse community approximating the kind of woodlands that existed in northeastern Illinois for thousands of years since the glaciers retreated. Goals for this project include increasing the native species diversity to a healthier level; expanding the amount of research done in McDonald Woods; and opening the woods to visitors as an outdoor classroom where they can learn about the beauty of the area's native flora and what must be done to preserve it.

Because of the Garden's commitment, McDonald Woods is an outstanding place to conduct long-term studies on the effects of restoration on native woodlands. Researchers from the Garden and the Field Museum are measuring the effects of management practices such as removal of invasive species and periodic prescribed burns on mosses, fungi, flowering plants, insects, spiders, small mammals, and birds. Early results indicate that in areas where the woods are being restored, species are increasing in number and diversity. One example is the Appalachian brown butterfly, which relies on sedges for larval food. The population of these rare butterflies has increased more than threefold over the past six years.

In collaboration with the Chicago Region Biodiversity Council, McDonald Woods is being developed as a demonstration site to educate visitors about local biodiversity and how to maintain it, and to extend the efforts already underway to inventory plant and animal diversity and restore threatened and endangered regional species. The Garden is creating new signs, maps, and other interpretive materials, and plans to expand the trail system.

Presently, 15 acres with wood chip trails and boardwalks (over wet areas) provide visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the contemplative beauty of an oak woodland. Strolling beneath leafy canopies of majestic tall trees gives the feeling of time traveled, back to when Illinois settlers described the woodlands as groves with carpets of grasses and wildflowers spread beneath lightly woven branches.

A variety of wildlife can be glimpsed by walkers, from Cooper's hawks overhead to magnificent great horned owls and elusive coyotes. In the spring, the sight of hundreds of wildflowers, including trillium, spring cress, trout lily, and hairy wood violet, makes each visit a special experience.

"The beauty of these plants and animals is enhanced by the knowledge that their numbers are increasing annually, signaling the return of the health and function to the community," notes Jim Steffen, the woodland's ecologist.

As that health increases, staff expect a wider range of nesting birds — such as red-headed woodpeckers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, Eastern wood peewees, yellow-billed cuckoos, and indigo buntings — to settle in the woods, making for a birder's dream.

And, of course, as Mary Mix McDonald Woods is located on the grounds of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the trails from the woods can lead visitors to 22 different gardens, art exhibits, and seasonal festivals.

The Garden is open every day of the year except Christmas from 8 a.m. to sunset. There is a restaurant on-site as well as designated picnic areas. Bikes are allowed on designated routes only. For more information, call (847) 835-5440.

— Julie Schuster