Enjoy a leisurely hike along the enchanting trails of Reed Turner Woodland, a dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve since the 1980’s. Reed Turner has a rich history of habitat restoration thanks to the late Barbara Turner’s leadership. This 50-acre preserve is home to over 500 different plant and tree species. Our walk will focus on native woodland goldenrods and asters, how to identify the different species, and which species work well in home landscapes. We’ll also talk about issues facing oak woodlands in the Chicago region. If we time it right, we may be treated to a breathtaking display of bottle gentian in the prairie patch. Be prepared to walk on wood chip and dirt trails. Must be able to comfortably walk up and down stairs.
Our guide for this outing will be Sarah Shultz. Sarah is currently the volunteer steward at Heron Creek Forest Preserve. She has over 25 years of experience in ecological restoration and enjoys sharing her knowledge on native plants and tree/shrub identification.