This project began in a somewhat different location - Bill and I went hiking in the Hidden Lake Forest Preserve. This preserve is on the northeast border of the Morton Arboretum. We were surprised to find that the thick underbrush in the area of the preserve that boarders the arboretum was gone, giving us a clear view of the arboretum. Interesting. Then we got into a discussion, “Exactly what part of the arboretum are we looking at?” and “Why did they do that?” This page documents our search for some answers.
Morton Arboretum’s East Woods consists of glacial terrain - moraines and kettles. Moraines are hills formed by debris left behind by retreating glaciers. Kettles are glacial potholes, sometimes depressions in the earth and sometimes substantial ponds.
This pond was filled with noisy boy frogs looking for girl frogs.
The path was hilly.
I went to the edge of this pond to see if I could see any frogs. No luck. However,
their noise left my ears ringing.
Morton Arboretum is attempting to “restore” their East Woods. I am confused about their baseline. Before European settlers arrived here, the Native Americans periodically set the woods on fire. Only fire resistant plants survived. Later the land was farmed. The farmer harvested some of the trees and clear-cut many of the remaining trees. Now the Arboretum is removing non-native and “inappropriate” plants.
A fence separated the arboretum from the Hidden Lake Forest Preserve. Notice that
there is no underbrush on either side of the fence. The lake was once a gravel pit.
There is a wide-open area, now a savanna, where a farmer once grew his crops. A wonderful assortment of grasses fills this savanna.
If you look closely, you will see a red roof in the distance - left side of this
picture. That is a McDonald's.
The “Big Rock” originated in upper Michigan, was pushed by glaciers to this hill, and then moved by a farmer and three strong horses to its current location.
