Natural Enquirer: May/June 2015

Natural Enquirer N e w s l e t t e r f o r S p r i n g Va l l e y S u p p o r t e r s a n d Vo l u n t e e r s

vol.6 no.3 • May-June ‘15

In this issue...

One of the great challenges facing conservation organizations and causes is the increasing disconnection between most urbanites (which includes most of us) and the natural world. This, of course, is the result of less and less time spent in nature and less of a need to do so for our survival. A counter movement in today’s world is towards a deeper understanding of local ecology and the plants and animals that make up the landscapes in which we live. This tendency among some folks (still not widespread enough to call a trend) is spurred on not by a need to know about local plants out of necessity.

People are discovering that the process of becoming more intimate with nature is deeply gratifying and fulfilling in itself. This issue of the Natural Enquirer explores examples of this deep knowledge of nature and the life-enhancing benefits to be gained through a better understanding of weeds and local mushrooms. Finally, we follow another enlightening detective story shared by our tireless historians at the Heritage Farm.

Inside Weeds....................................................................2 Spore-adically Going Out to Dinner................ 3-4 Good News for Local Birds!................................4 What’s Happenin’.............................................. 5-6 Yellow Ochre.........................................................7

Spring Valley General Information....................11 Volunteer News Contents Volunteer Information..........................................8 Volunteer Calendar......................................... 9-10

Schaumburg Park District

Visit www.parkfun.com and take our Spring Valley Program Survey.

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Weeds

A

by Matt McBrien

weed! A word that can make one shudder. You need only walk through your neighborhood on a warm summer day and, with a quick glance at the lawn, you can most likely find those who cringe at the utterance of the word. To most of us, it evokes the image of a dandelion. Innocuous to all but the battle hardened, weekend warrior armed with the string trimmer in one hand and the spray bottle in the other. The goal is control. We have been conditioned, either through our upbringing or the bombardment of television advertisements, to have a proper lawn; pristinely manicured and free of all but the freshly cut Kentucky blue grass. However, there is more to “weeds” than meet the eye.

However, there is another relatively untapped reason to preserve what remains of our prairie ecosystems. Pharmaceuticals!

Native Americans have long been known for using various plants and plant parts to remedy ailments; however, most of their

Purple Coneflower

A weed is defined as a plant out of place. Appropriate as the term may be for a dandelion in our lawn, it is often used as a very general term to broadly describe a particular landscape. I have been asked many times by visitors walking the prairie lined pathways at Spring Valley, “When are you gonna’ cut down all these weeds?” I don’t have to see their lawn to know that I am trying to convince a weed cringer that our prairie is not weeds. These plants are exactly where they were intended to be. Most of the time, this can be a difficult task; but I try a variety of angles that I hope will sway their opinion.

The obvious explanation is that the prairie provides habitat to a great variety of insects and animals that rely upon it for food or protection from predators.

Or, the prairie helps to stabilize soils from erosion and filters sediment and pollutants from the water that we drink.

Or, the prairie acts as a carbon sink by sequestering carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Or, simply, the prairie holds aesthetic beauty and is part of our natural heritage. For most, that should be enough to convince them and be reason enough to keep the prairie around, albeit maybe not in their backyard.

example, the immune system boost delivered by echinacea remains a mystery to researchers. The specific compounds have yet to be isolated and synthesized and therefore must be extracted from the plant directly. Furthermore, the plants must be wild grown in order to be exposed to the stresses that trigger the production of the biologically active compound.

Petri-dish with Plant

Dandelions

discoveries, herbal preparations and dosages were determined through trial and error. Scientists have now learned to isolate the specific compounds found within plants that have great potential benefits for human health. These chemical compounds, originally categorized as secondary compounds and thought to have little relative importance, are responsible for regulating plant stress or combating herbivores. Today, they are at the forefront of modern medicine and are used in hundreds of pharmaceuticals worldwide.

Chemical compounds produced within a plant are complex and often cannot be synthesized in a laboratory setting but must be taken from the plant itself. For 2

Researchers at the University of Kansas, who have sampled plants from around the world, feel that the prairie of the Great Plains is a goldmine of virtually untapped potential—possibly even greater than that of tropical rainforests, which have been touted as the medicine cabinet of future pharmaceuticals. Like the rainforest, the Midwest prairies are disappearing. Once covering 140 million acres in North America, now only 4% of the original prairie remains. The prairie ecosystem is home to thousands of plant species, with only a couple hundred put through the scrutiny required to determine the beneficial characteristics they may hold for human health. There is no telling what has been lost already to extinction. The answer to some of the most puzzling diseases in society today may be waiting in the “weeds”.

As for the lowly dandelion, it has only been used for a few millennia as a remedy for ailments as simple as warts to that of plague; and it is more nutritious than most vegetables in your garden.

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Spore-adically Going Out to Dinner Spring has arrived in Illinois and local forests are putting on a show that challenges the autumn canopy color change. In a matter of days, the last remaining tracks in the snow (and the evidence of high speed coyote/rabbit chases) melted away and saturated the ground below. Woodland ephemerals, like trilliums and Virginia bluebells, are quick to take advantage of the rising temperatures, moist soils, and ample sunlight present before trees leaf-out and shade the setting. As umbrella-like Mayapples open up to resemble a crowded Tahiti beach resort, it is often easy to pass over the unassuming growth below.

The wet spring season provides the perfect habitat for fungus and mushrooms across the Midwest. While these specimens are often spotted on a hike and observed from a distance, most hikers continue on, intrigued or puzzled by the oddity growing along the trail. Many old traditions of mushroom hunting and harvesting have fallen to the wayside.

This article is intended to identify one of the most popular hard-sought edible delicacies—the morel.

One of the first, and definitely the most revered, edible mushroom to pop in the spring is the morel. Throughout Illinois and Wisconsin woodlands, this specimen represents the “X” on many treasure maps. The ideal morel months are April and May, but they can be found as early as March and remain through June, depending on the weather and growing conditions. While there are some basic guidelines to morel hunting, much of the excitement is the unknown from one year to the next. A spot that once produced a healthy crop of morels can be completely vacant the following spring; however, some general tricks have been identified.

Morels seem to have a special relationship with certain trees, and dead or dying elms top the list. While Dutch Elm Disease has drastically hurt elm populations, morels have benefited from the decaying trees. This relationship is still somewhat a mystery, but theories suggest that as the canopy of an elm dies back, the reversing sap flow saturates the soil around the tree’s root system.

by Matt Streitmatter

Morel

This sap is thought to act as a catalyst for morel growth, although this has not been scientifically proven. Morels can take up to two years to fully mature from a spore, so finding elms that are dying, rather than fully dead, is important. Morels can also be found around the bases of ash, sycamore, oak, and apple trees, so an expanded knowledge of tree species will help fill the collection basket. In addition, optimal air temperatures for morel growth range from 50–70 degrees and a sandy soil with a soil temperature in the 50s is ideal. Even with this knowledge, the morel is known to be very elusive. Timing, patience, and a little luck represent a collector’s best weapons for success.

Before the hunt can begin, proper identification is a must when considering any wild edibles. While the physical structure of a morel is rather unique, there are some potentially dangerous look-alikes that should be addressed. Let’s start with the edible morels found in Illinois and then take a look at some similar poisonous species to watch out for. Black (Morchella elata) and yellow (Morchella esculenta) morels are known as true morels, and are the targeted mushrooms 3

when collecting. The average size for morels is about 2–5 inches, but a morel in 2007 measured in at 11 inches and weighed over four pounds. Not too shabby, when you consider the going rate for morels in a grocery store can exceed 40 dollars per pound!

When identifying true morels, one must start with the cap. The most obvious clue for these species is the fact that the stem and cap are hollow when sliced open. The bottom of a true morel’s cap also attaches directly to the stem, and is much more deeply pitted than other lookalikes. A couple phrases to remember when collecting are, “If it is not hollow, do not swallow” and “If not attached, throw it in the thatch.”

These are not to be confused with two potentially dangerous and poisonous species. Similar in stature, the false morel (Verpa bohemica) and the beefsteak mushroom (Gyromitra esculenta) can cause nausea, dizziness and, in extreme cases, death if ingested; so it is very important to know each mushroom’s differences.

The false morel, also known as early morel or caps, is the most frequently confused mushroom when hunting true morels. Its stem is filled with cotton-like fibers and is not hollow. This should not be the only characteristic used when identifying, however, because slugs are known to eat these fibers, giving a false morel the appearance of a hollowed true morel. A false morel’s cap is also more wrinkled rather than deeply pitted and is connected to the stem internally at the very top of the cap. A slight pull or twist will cause a false morel’s cap to fall off, whereas a true morel’s cap must be pinched off the stem for removal.

Beefsteak mushrooms can also be confused with morels due to their lobed wavy

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Spore-adically Going Out to Dinner (Continued) by Matt Streitmatter structure; however, these mushrooms tend to lack the erect vertical growth found with morels. As the beefsteak ages and matures, the ridges on the cap also turn to a dark black. Both false morels and beefsteak mushrooms contain a poison known as MMH (monmethylhydrazine), a chemical found in rocket fuel.

It cannot be stressed enough to properly classify mushroom species before harvesting! The best and safest line of action is to tag along with an experienced collector until you are comfortable with the identification process, as true and false morels are actually quite distinguishable when compared in the field.

Once morels are collected, the first step to reaching the dinner table is to soak the specimens in water. This will help clean the mushrooms from any debris, insects, bacteria, or other unwanted additions to your meal. Once rinsed and cooked, morels can be added to any dish contain-

ing mushrooms, but the most popular route of preparation is to sauté them in butter with a light breading. Morels have a rich steak like texture and meaty taste, so they are most appreciated as the focal point of a dish or even served alone.

In addition to proper identification, there are a few things to consider before heading into the woods. Permission to collect is a necessity! Private land, as well as many public natural areas, may forbid harvesting, so it is very important to check all the rules and regulations associated with your local woodland. Once permission is granted, there is an underlying “picker’s code”, to take some but not all. It is always important to keep conservation in

Good News for Local Birds!

The Bird Conservation Network (BCN) and Audubon Chicago Region released a new study back in March: Population Trends—Breeding Birds of the Chicago Region 1999–2012. This study reveals that about half of our breeding species show stable to increasing populations. Birds like eastern bluebirds and orchard orioles and grassland species like Henslow’s sparrows are bucking the national trend by increasing here in the Chicago Region.

The often used ‘canary in a coal mine’ analogy is clearly relevant to what’s happening in the 545,000 acres (850 square miles) of protected lands in the Chicago Region. The region’s breeding birds—over 150 species raise their young right in the midst of our densely populated but ecologically diverse landscape—are telling us that we’re doing a lot of things right as we protect, manage, and restore our wild areas.

Dr. Jeff Walk, Director of Science for the Illinois chapter of The Nature Conservancy stated, “The joint BCN, Audubon Chicago Region report is a terrific example of citizen-scientists generating information that has real conservation value.

The fine-scale monitoring and short-term

mind to prevent overindulgence. Taking a few from each cluster of morels will help to insure future populations for years to come.

Even if you are not an avid mushroom consumer, the morel can be appreciated for so much more than its great taste. A true sign of spring, The Great Morel, always offers a unique photograph for any nature lover. It may even mysteriously move into your backyard for a few months, only to leave the following year undetected.

As a grassroots movement continues to rapidly spread across the U.S., the actual act of the morel hunt gives an individual a chance to slow things down, enjoy a walk through the woods, and truly appreciate the “fungus among-us.”

(Excerpted from a report by the Bird Conservation Network)

trend data that the dedicated volunteers are able to provide for the Chicago region is remarkable…it is very encouraging to see some species of high conservation concern bucking their longer-term, larger-scale population trends with stability or recent increases in the Chicago Region.”

Dr. Mike Ward, Assistant Professor at U of I and Scientist at the Illinois Bobolink Natural History Survey added, “It is encouraging to see the several species of grassland birds, including bobolink, Henslow’s sparrow, and dickcissel, either increasing or holding their own. I would suggest that the great work of many Chicago Wilderness partners in restoring and managing grasslands is allowing Dickcissel these species to persist and potentially increase in the area.”

But there’s more work to be done! In all 4

the good news about stable or increasing populations of many bird species here in the Chicago Wilderness region, there are still areas of concern. Certain ground and low nesting woodland species are declining. Reversing that trend presents a real challenge to land managers: how best to remove non-native understory vegetation, replace it with natives, and then prevent over-browsing by our overabundant deer population.

Part of the National Audubon Society, Audubon Chicago Region has worked with Chicago area residents for 15 years to conserve and restore nature, focusing its efforts on wildlife, habitat, and public education for the benefit of humanity and the region’s biological diversity. Learn more about the work of Audubon Chicago Region online at chicagoregion.audubon.org BCN is a coalition of 20 organizations (bird clubs, Audubon chapters, ornithological societies and conservation organizations) primarily in the Chicago area, but also throughout Illinois, whose mission is the conservation of birds and the habitats they need to survive.

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Click on program/icon for information and to register online.*

*To create a new account, visit the registration desk at the CRC or download an internet registration form from www.parkfun.com. The form can be found under the registration tab.

Programs will be cancelled three days in advance if minimum is not reached, so register early!

Project Learning Tree

Saturday, May 23 • 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Enjoy a fun-filled day in which you’ll learn about and participate in many of the 96 interdisciplinary activities.

Additional workshops are being developed. For information, visit www.parkfun.com/Spring-Valley/ programs.

Early Childhood Educators’ Combo

Saturday, June 6 • 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Receive two nationally acclaimed curricula, Project Learning Tree Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood and Growing Up Wild. Both build on a child’s sense of wonder about nature!

EARLY CHILDHOOD

&

Native Plant Sale Backyards for

Budding Naturalists

Saturday, May 9 • 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Come grow as naturalists as we search for tiny plants, listen to a story and plant a seed.

Nature Fair

Little Hoppers

Saturday, June 27 • Noon-1:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 3 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

We’ll read frog stories, play frog games and look for little hoppers that may be hiding.

Spring Valley Nature Center

FAMILY

This celebration of Sponsored by environmental stewardship features information on landscaping with native plants, composting, attracting birds, rain gardens, natural pest control, children’s activities and plant sale. Call 847/985-2100 for information.

The following programs have a special family rate. By registering ONE child, it is assumed that a minimum of two people (one adult and child) or a maximum of four people are attending. Do NOT register additional people, they may pay on the day of the program.

Campfire at the Cabin

Saturday, May 27 • 7:30-9:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 25 • 7:30-9:00 p.m.

Hike down to the cabin for a campfire with stories, songs and toasted marshmallows.

Co-sponsored by the Schaumburg Park District and Schaumburg Community Garden Club

Farm, Family, Food

ADULT or TEEN

Friday, May 15 • 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Let the whole family get down and dirty while experiencing farm life firsthand!

Harper College & Spring Valley

Register through Harper College or call 847/925-6707.

Class held at Spring Valley.

Letterbox Adventure

Saturday, May 30 • 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Creating a Backyard Wildlife Oasis

Learn about letterboxes, following clues, create a journal and design your own stamp.

Saturday, June 6 • 9-11:30 a.m.

Learn how to transform a plain landscape into a space teeming with butterflies, birds, and other backyard visitors. Course: LLG0061

Night of the Frogs

Saturday, June 6 • 6:30-8:00 p.m.

As the sun sets on Spring Valley, we’ll hike around the wetlands in search of frogs.

Creating with Concrete: Birdbaths Saturday, May 30 • 10:00 a.m.-Noon Learn the basics of working with this hardy, verstile material while creating a birdbath.

Turtle Tracks

Saturday, June 13 • 10:30 a.m.-Noon

Go on a turtle hunt, looking for those who carry their homes on their back.

Weekly Yoga at the Cabin

Tuesday, June 9 - Aug. 4 • 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, June 9 - Aug. 4 • 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 11 - Aug. 6 • 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 11 - Aug. 6 • 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Enjoy a weekly yoga class in the woods at the Merkle Cabin.

Mother’s Day Celebration

Sunday, May 10 • 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Heritage Farm

The Heritage Farm will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Anytime between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. children are welcome to drop in to the Heritage Farm’s Visitor’s Center to make a simple and free mother’s day craft for their mother.

ALL AGES Breakfast with the Birds

Saturday, May 9 • 7:00-9:00 a.m.

Enjoy an early morning walk to look for Spring Valley’s colorful migratory birds.

FREE admission and all ages welcome.

Spring Bird Count

HERITAGE FARM DROP-IN DAY

Saturday, May 9 • 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Help count birds during the Audubon Society’s spring bird count. Come for part or all of the day!

$2 per person • Appropriate for 3yrs and older

“Garden Helpers”

Peonies Aplenty

Thursday, June 18 • Anytime between 10 a.m. - Noon

Sunday, June 7 • Noon-4PM

See the heirloom vegetables in farm kitchen garden, help the house frau with garden maintenance, and plant a seed to take home and help grow throughout the summer.

Visit Merkle Cabin to see the peonies in their glorious bloom. Be sure to bring your camera. It’s a site not to be missed.

Spring Valley Country Fair Sunday, June 7 • Noon-4 p.m. • Heritage Farm

Sponsored by

Experience the charm of a community farm fair during the late 19th century. Visitors may stop by the livestock and domestic arts tents to find out who has won blue ribbons and watch as the latest hay mowers and other farm equipment are demonstrated. Join in the fun by participating in various games and competitions. Also, don’t forget to buy a delectable treat from the bake sale table. This recreated historic event will include food, music and more!

Admission is $3/person or $12/family. Children ages 3 and younger are free.

Photo by Ed Luebbers, SAPS.

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Home School Naturalist Group Programs

Enjoy an evening of Illinois wines & brews on the prairie.

Spring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm is the perfect place for hands-on, exploration-based science programs. Offerings change seasonally, so check the program guide regularly.

Spring topics: • Biscuits & Butter – Experience 19th century farm life as you cook on the wood bring stove and churn your own butter.

• Wetland Defenders – Using scientific techniques, determine the water quality of Spring Valley’s wetlands.

• Woodland Wildflowers – Learn the parts of a flower and explore the woods for spring flowers.

• Spring Birds – Go over bird watching basics, learn common bird calls and examine real bird nests.

• Available every spring: Farms and Food, Gardening, Nighttime Nature, Owls: Predators of the Night, Springtime Growth, Wetlands, Conservation in Action, Woodlands

Saturday, June 20 • 6-9p.m.

For more information about programs and pricing, or to schedule a program, call 847/985-2100.

Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E, Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg • Program Code: 60349

21 years or older to attend • Indoor/outdoor event The evening includes ‘tasting plate’ snacks, commemorative wine glass and musical entertainment. Sampled wines are available for purchase.

YOUTH Backpacking Gear

Tickets: $30 through PayPal at schaumburgparkfoundation.org.

Includes 10 tastings. Additional tastings available for purchase.

Saturday, May 31 • 1:00-2:30 p.m.

For more information, call 847/985-2115 or visit schaumburgparkfoundation.org.

Learn about gear, how to size your backpack, and how to purify water.

Backpacking Cooking

Benefiting the Schaumburg Park Foundation’s scholarship program.

Saturday, May 31 • 2:45-4:00 p.m.

Cook your favorite cup of Ramen noodles or your favorite dehydrated meal.

Weekend Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides at the Farm

Backpacking Combo

Saturday, May 31 • 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon of backpacking gear and backpacking cooking!

Saturdays & Sundays • 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Relax and enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride through Heritage Farm as staff relates information about the farm, animals and the history of Schaumburg’s farm families.

Dress for the weather.

Blossoming Detectives

Saturday, May 16 • 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Become a flower detective looking for blossoms in the woods and prairies.

• Tickets sold on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the ride, no earlier than 15 minutes before start time.

• Tickets are $3/person; children 3 and under are free.

• Wagon holds a maximum of 15 people.

• Rides begin and end next to the Farm Visitor Center.

Camping Gear

Saturday, June 28 • 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Find out about basic camping gear, learn fire building techniques and more.

Note: Wagon rides may be cancelled due to extreme weather (storms or heat) and/or animal health issues.

Wagon ride will not be offered on Special Event days.

Please call 847/985-2102 or check www.parkfun.com for updated information. Heritage Farm is closed July 4 for Independence Day.

Camping Cooking

Saturday, June 28 • 2:45-4:00 p.m.

Learn to cook an egg in a paper cup, on a stick and in a piece of fruit or vegetable!

Groups of 15 and larger are encouraged to schedule their own group wagon rental. For more information, call Heritage Farm at 847/985-2102.

Camping Combo

Saturday, June 28 • 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon of camping gear and camping cooking.

Creek Stompers

Saturday, June 27 • 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Get your feet wet and hands muddy as we dive in to look for fish, water bugs, clams and more.

Metamorphosis Madness

Saturday, June 13 • 12:30-2:00 p.m.

Explore the life cycles of insects and the major changes they go through.

Special Thursday Afternoon Summer Wagon Rides

Spring Discoveries

Saturday, May 16 • 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Take a walk exploring spring’s bounty discovering what may be hiding in unusual places.

June 25, July 9, July 30 & Aug. 6

Rides will occur at 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Survival Gear/Survival Kit

Saturday, June 14 • 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Learn about the 10 essentials you should have with you on a hike.

Summer Camps at Spring Valley

Survival Fire Starting

Saturday, June 14 • 2:45-4:00 p.m.

Learn how to make char cloth and a fire starter and leave with your very own.

Spring Valley offers a variety of summer camps (full and half-day) for children 5-15 years old.

Survival Combo

Saturday, June 14 • 1:00-4:00 p.m.

For more information, call 847/985-2100 or click here.

Join us for a survival combo including both fire starting and survival gear.

Great Smoky Mountain Exploration Thursday, Sept. 17- Thursday, Sept. 24

Explore one of America’s most popular and incredible National Parks after the summer crowds have disappeared. We’ll travel by bus, stopping in Louisville, KY for the night, then continue on to Maggie Valley, NC, our base for exploring ‘the Smokies.’ There will be lots of opportunities over four days for sightseeing and exploring the park’s diverse natural wonders, waterfalls, history, culture and scenic views. Highlights will include the Mountain Life Festival and Oconaluftee Indian Village, a scenic railroad tour of the Nantahala Valley and a guided Cade’s Cove hayride. Lodging will be double occupancy, unless single occupancy is requested.

All transportation, fees, lodging and most meals are included.

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Yellow Ochre

by Jonathan Kuester

“The past never changes.” These were the words Terry Barnhart used when describing to his graduate students the plans to re-furnish the Volkening Heritage Farm’s farmhouse. Dr. Barnhart’s students from Eastern Illinois University’s Historical Administration Program were visiting Spring Valley just before completion of their two year master’s program.

They were interested in the reinterpretation of the farm from a middle class Victorian farm to the Germanic enclave we now know existed in Schaumburg. Upon hearing the plans to refurnish and reinterpret the farmhouse addition, he told his students, “The past never changes, but history changes every day.” This is the lesson he wanted them to learn and we are a living example of how new information changes how we look at history.

With new research comes new understanding, and new problems. For many years Volkening Heritage Farm staff have known that the interpretation of the farm house was not quite correct. The furnishings hamper our ability to tell the story and so it was decided last year that we needed a new furnishing plan that specifies everything about the interior of the building from the color and type of paint to the furniture and fixtures to be used. Every possible detail needs to be thought of, researched and written down.

What daunting tasks! Where does one begin? In our case we start at the bottom, literally.

One of the first decisions was what color to paint the floor. As anyone who has ever picked out carpet can tell you, this seems easy enough until you have to make the decision. Floor colors are generally neutral, not too light or they will show dirt and not too dark or they suck all the light out of the room. We started by looking at what was already under the carpet. Unfortunately, the answer was brown. A brown painted floor is about as exciting as dirt. This color was picked when the house was first restored in the 1980s. Historically, the floor was finished with a coating called Spar Varnish. This surface had long ago been sanded, carpeted, painted, and re- carpeted. This was no good either. Varnished floors do not hold up particularly well to thousands of wet feet and date more to the 1908 appending period of the structure. What we needed was a hard painted surface and this would take some study and searching to find.

We had long known that another 19th century Schaumburg structure, the Hattendorf house, had a peculiar orange-yellow color on its kitchen floor. It is still apparent in small traces on the Yellow Ochre Sample floor of what was once their kitchen addition, now our wascherei or washhouse. This color became a real contender when I found the same paint on the floor of my own 1871 house in East Dundee. This was interesting, two German houses of about the same time period both with orange-yellow floors. What is this color?

From the limited pallet of 19th century colors available, it wasn’t hard to figure out. The color was historically called yellow ochre and sometimes still goes by that name or more commonly yellow oxide. It is a simple mineral pigment made from hydrated iron oxide. Basically this is yellow rust that occurs in various clay deposits, especially in France. It has long been known (I’m talking ‘cave painting long-ago’) and has the characteristics of being completely opaque and very long lasting, perfect characteristics for a floor.

Two floors were intriguing but not quite proof enough to pick yellow ochre as our color. It wouldn’t be long before we would see yellow ochre again and on more floors of German houses. My next encounter came while visiting Kline Creek Farm in DuPage County. While passing through their farm house I noticed the same color on the floor of their dining room. This could be a coincidence and since the floor had been repainted during restoration I couldn’t entirely count this as evidence. The coincidences were starting to pile up, however, and now I was actively looking at floors for traces of the mustard-colored paint. My next encounter would come not more than a day later. This time it would have a direct connection to Schaumburg and it wasn’t a remnant found under a floorboard or a copy of an earlier paint job. I had gone to see the F. W. Muller house at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum and in 7

the back stairway there it was.

The whole stairway from top to bottom was painted yellow ochre. This could not be a coincidence. Arlington Heights and Schaumburg have a long history of interconnectedness with many of the families being related, and there it was.

Yellow Floor

The adventure did not end there. Once you have started looking at floors, you will never not look at floors! And again it would not be long before my yellow friend would find me. The next week I was nowhere near Schaumburg and far from my search for yellow ochre. I had traveled to Collinsville, Illinois, for a museum conference when a colleague asked if I would come out to a farm with him to see what I thought of it. The property, called the Emma Buck Farm after its last owner, stands as a full sized farm time capsule.

Through circumstances too complicated to describe here, the farm has been maintained, but not updated, since the death of Emma’s grandfather in about 1908. The site is not yet open to the public but it is cared for by a volunteer organization. Everything is there, every item that Emma ever used in her life and everything that her parents ever used is there. As I walked through the house, which is actually a log house dating to the 1840s, there it was. The back kitchen floor was completely yellow ochre in the most intact and pristine condition I have ever seen.

To find the color once is a start, twice is interesting; but to find it five times in the span of a week and a half is a sign if ever there was one. The color is perfect for us. It is hard, long lasting, bright and specifically German. All the things we were looking for. There was little doubt left, yellow ochre was our color and to me it looks just as it should.

Volunteer News S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • M a y / J u n e 2 0 1 5

Dates to Remember

Volunteer Want Ads

• Sun., May 3....................10am-2pm Backyards for Nature Fair

If you are interested in helping with any of the following activities, please call Judy at 847/985-2100 or e-mail her at juvito@parkfun.com.

Conservation Workdays

May 16 and June 13 • 9am-1pm Come one! Come all! We’re looking for volunteers to spend the morning with us for our upcoming workdays.

Any amount of time you can share with us on these conservation projects would be appreciated.

Country Fair

Sunday, June 7 • Noon-4pm Farm interpreters are needed to help recreate the charm of a late 19th century community farm fair. Additional support positions are available for registered volunteers.

Sponsored by

Pats on the back to the following volunteers...

• Christine and John Curin, Kathy DeGeus, Daryle Drew, Pete Gigous, Sue and Rich Ringfelt, Barb Royce, and Leo Salais for being this year’s sap collectors.

• Wed., May 6...................6:30-9pm Volunteer Meeting

• Sat., May 9.....................7am-4pm Spring Bird Count • Mon., May 11.................1-4pm Handy Crafters Meeting

• Sat., May 16...................9am-1pm Conservation Workday • Mon., June 1..................1-4pm Handy Crafters Meeting

• Sun., June 7...................Noon-4pm Country Fair

• Sun., June 7...................Noon-4pm Peonies Aplenty

• Duane Bolin, Dean Bruckner, Marilyn Dvoratchek, Lynn Eikenbary, Arthur Jeczala, Arlene Krizka, Barb Mitchell, Ken Ogorzalek, Penny and Tom Perles, Jim Peterson, Roy Svenson, Donna Turner, and Angela Waidanz for helping with miscellaneous set-up jobs for Sugar Bush.

• Sat., June 13..................9am-1pm Conservation Workday • Sat., June 20..................6-9pm Solstice Hop and Vine

• All the volunteers who helped at this year’s record setting Sugar Bush.

• Lynn Eikenbary, Arthur Jeczala, Maggie Justen, Eileen Skiba, and Carol Thomas for distributing the spring prescribed burn flyers.

• James Baum, Melanie Blume, Duane Bolin, Dean Bruckner, John Curin, Lynn Eikenbary, Bill Forst, Pete Gigous, Bruce Glesne, Dan Gryzik, Mary Matz, Penny Perles, Tom Perles, and Roy Svenson for assisting with the spring prescribed burns.

Congratulations to…

Lynn Eikenbary for being named the 2015 Village of Schaumburg Adult Volunteer of the Year. She assists with nearly every aspect of the Spring Valley volunteer program. What a great way to celebrate her 40 years of volunteer service to Spring Valley!

Jay Laski, the recipient of this year’s Spring Valley Volunteer of the Year, for his many contributions and exemplary commitment to Spring Valley during the past year. His assistance with animal care and conservation/ maintenance is greatly appreciated.

Welcome New Volunteers…

• Arlene Burke (Welcome back!)

• Parma Heaney

• Maggie Justen • Lisa Michelini

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Happy Birthday to…

May

1 2

3

5 7

Dan Floreani Rene Netzer Tom Skiba Cindy Holmberg John Tatom Jim Baum Elizabeth Tatom

June 1 2 3 5 9

12 13 15

Joan Vodraska Penny Perles Venus Gintowt Amanda Greco Hilary Ellis Tom Walsh Lori Kandl Kate Kitowski Carol Thomas

• Emma Rogers

• Debbie Rose

16 Angela Waidanz 17 Jan Costis 18 Betty Bei 19 Pat Dillon 22 Jean Havlir 25 Dave Margolis

18 21 22 23 27

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Pete Gigous Bill Tucknott Richard Leonhardt Leon Blum Julie Margolis James McGee Megan Bonney Nancy Griffin Gerri Svenson

• Margie Vollkommer

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • Vo l u n t e e r C a l e n d a r

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

MAY 2015 Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

1

Farm Hour: Tues-Fri 9:00am-2:00 pm • Sat/Sun 10:00am-4:00pm

Saturday

2

Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

3

4

Backyards for Nature Fair 10am

•All About Farm Animals 10am

5

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

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•Mother’s Day Celebration 11am

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•All About Farm Animals 10am Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Mother’s Day

17

12

18

19

6

7

Volunteer Meeting 6:30pm

13

20

24

25 31

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Sierra Club 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

9

Spring Bird Count 7am •Breakfast with the Birds 7am •Budding Naturalists 1pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

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Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

8

15 •Farm, Family, Food 5:30pm

22

16

Conservation Workday 9am •Spring Discoveries 9am •Spring into Gardening 10am •Blossoming Detectives 11:30am

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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 8pm

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28

Memorial Day 9

29

30

•Creating with Concrete: Birdbaths 10am •Letterbox Adventure 1pm

S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • Vo l u n t e e r C a l e n d a r

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

1

JUNE 2015

2

Handy Crafters Meeting 1pm

Wednesday

Thursday

3

4

5

7

8

9

10

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

14

•Survival Gear/Survival Kit 1pm •Survival Fire Starting 2:45pm

15 M-F

16 •All About Fish 9am •Wee Sprouts 9:15am

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Schaumburg Community Garden Club 7pm

17

•Feathered Friends 9:30am •Animal Crackers - Mini 9:30am

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22 M-F

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•Hungry Hunters 9:30am •Animal Crackers 9:30am

•Historian’s Apprentice 9:45am •All About Fish 1pm

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M-F

•Explore More Camp 9:30am •Lil’ Rock Hounds 9:30am

•Cookin’ Up History 9:30am •Bug Hunters 1pm

19

20

•Wiggles, Squiggles and Giggles Camp 1pm

25

Solstice Hop ‘n Vine Festival 6pm

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•Cabin Capers 10am •Lil’ Astronauts 1pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

30

13

Conservation Workday 9am •Turtle Tracks 10:30am •Metamorphosis Madness 12:30pm

•The Summer Sky 9pm

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

•Chores and Chortles - Mini 10am •Valley Ventures 10am

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•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm Sierra Club 6:30pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

18

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

Father’s Day •Camping Gear 1pm •Camping Cooking 2:45pm

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12

•Garden Helpers Drop In 10am

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

6

•Creating a Backyard Wildlife Oasis 9am

•Night of the Frogs 6:30pm

Spring Valley Nature Club 6:30pm

Spring Valley Country Fair Noon Peonies A’ Plenty Noon

Saturday

Friday

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•Little Hoppers Noon •Creek Stompers 2pm

•Campfire at the Cabin 7:30pm

FarmHours: Tues-Fri 9:00am-2:00 pm • Sat/Sun 10:00am-4:00pm •Farmer Boot Camp 2pm

Cabin Closed Bold indicates volunteer activities Italics indicates programs which may be taken as complimentary by volunteers See “What’s Happening” for program descriptions

•Weekly Yoga at Cabin 6pm •Weekly Yoga at Cabin 7:30pm

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S p r i n g Va l l e y • N a t u r a l E n q u i r e r • M a y / J u n e 2 0 1 5 Spring Valley • Schaumburg Park District • 1111 East Schaumburg Road • Schaumburg, Illinois 60194 Schaumburg Rd.

N Plum Grove Rd.

Spring Valley is a refuge of 135 acres of fields, forests, marshes and streams with over three miles of handicappedaccessible trails, a museum featuring natural history displays and information, and an 1880s living-history farm. Spring Valley is open to the general public. Admission is free.

Vera Meineke Nature Center

Volkening Heritage Farm

PHONE VERA MEINEKE NATURE CENTER...............................................847/985-2100 VOLKENING HERITAGE FARM......................................................847-985-2102

135 acres

HOURS Nature Center Grounds & Trails...............Open Daily...............8AM-5PM Volkening Heritage Farm Grounds..........Closed......................Dec.1-March 1

Vera Meineke Nature Center

The earth-sheltered visitor center provides an introduction to Spring Valley’s 135 acres of restored prairies, woodlands and wetlands and three miles of trails. The center contains natural history exhibits that change seasonally, a demonstration Backyard for Wildlife, an observation tower, classrooms, an extensive library, gift sales area and restrooms.

NATURE CENTER/MUSEUM HOURS: Year Round.............Daily*.......... 9AM-5PM FARM INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM HOURS: Nov. - March............Open for Special Events April 1 - Oct. 31.......Sat/Sun....... 10AM-4PM Tue-Fri........ 9AM-2PM Mon............ Buildings Closed

Volkening Heritage Farm

Step back into the past for a look at Schaumburg as it was in the 1880s – a rural German farm community. Help with seasonal farm chores, participate in family activities and games of the 1880s, or simply visit the livestock and soak in the quiet. Authentically dressed interpreters will welcome and share activities with visitors throughout the site.

Spring Valley Birthday Parties

We’ll bring our outreach program to your site. Topics include forests, worms, spiders, mammals, owls, food chains, food webs, wetlands, and the water cycle. Students will participate in hands-on activities, songs, and games. Topics may be adapted to students in grades one through six, and are aligned with Illinois State Standards and NGSS.

Looking for a unique, fun, and educational venue for your child’s birthday? Spring Valley is the answer! Two party themes are available. A hayride can be added for an extra fee. Call Spring Valley for more information.

Spring Valley Firepit and Shelter Rentals

Make your next scout group, business or family gathering something special! Spring Valley offers the use of a picnic shelter and fire pit in a wooded setting near the Merkle Log Cabin. Use of the site includes firewood, trash/recycling receptacles and benches, as well as picnic tables. No alcohol or amplified music permitted. Restrooms are available at the Heritage Farm or Nature Center, a 5–10 minute walk. The adjacent Merkle Log Cabin contains a restroom and may be rented for additional fees.

Programs at Spring Valley

School, Scout and adult groups are encouraged to take advantage of Spring Valley’s Environmental Education Program. Programs change seasonally and are geared for specific age groups. Correlations to the state standards, connections with NGSS, and activity sheets are available on the SPD website, www.parkfun.com.

Learn local history with a visit to the Heritage Farm. Elementary and high school students recreate farm life in the 1880s with Hands on History; second graders experience it through Heritage Quest.

Children from the age of four through second grade will learn about food, farmers, and farm animals in Farms and Foods.

Scout Badges

Hourly use fees:

We offer many opportunities for scouts. Our programs will help with your badge, pin or patch requirements. Call for more information or stop in for a brochure.

Spring Valley’s mission is to educate area residents regarding the natural and cultural history of the Schaumburg area and how people have and continue to interact with and upon the landscape.

Residents:.............. $25

Civic groups:...............................$25

Non-residents:....... $40 Corporate/business groups:.......$55

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:

NATURAL ENQUIRER STAFF: Mary Rice.......... Editor

Mike Daniels Sharon DiMaria David Johnson George Longmeyer Bob Schmidt

Judy Vito............ Volunteer Coordinator Dave Brooks...... “In this Issue...”

Scott Stompor.... Graphic Artist

SCHAUMBURG PARK DISTRICT WEBSITE: www.parkfun.com

E-MAIL:

springvalley@parkfun.com

MEMBER:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Tony LaFrenere

Participants should dress appropriately for weather conditions.

*All facilities closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Environmental Outreach Program

SPRING VALLEY MISSION STATEMENT:

Unless otherwise noted, all programs are held rain or shine.

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