Fall 2001

Two worlds in one preserve — a mature forest, and a mix of forest, savanna, and wetlands.

DuPage County, Illinois

Meacham Grove Forest Preserve in Bloomingdale offers the best of two ecologically diverse worlds: a 40-acre mature forest west of Roselle Road and 200 acres of forest, savanna, and wetlands on the east side.

In 1920, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County acquired the west sector, now one of the best examples of native woodland in the county. Fifty-four years later, the district acquired a gravel pit and landfill across the road and over the years has transformed it to benefit the environment and people: created wetlands and other structures now provide wildlife habitat and flood protection for local communities. Originally called Bloomingdale Grove, the preserve was renamed in 1976 for the Meacham brothers who helped settle Bloomingdale in the early 1830s.

As volunteer steward Bob Flesvig and I biked through one of the two short trails (about .5 miles each) in the west sector, towering trees filtered the light and muffled the surrounding city sounds. Removal of invasive buckthorn has made room for butterfly weed, with hot-orange flowers contrasting against the cool green forest floor. Since Flesvig began working here a decade ago, he has been on a buckthorn crusade. “There is no standing buckthorn on the west side now,” he said, “and none have gone to seed. Over the years, you see a difference. It’s really amazing. A healthy Midwestern forest is something you can see through, like here on the west side. It has open spaces.”

This mesic upland forest is moderately damp, with puddles that
occasionally dry, leaving a thin layer of soil above about 8” of gravel. Periodic burns are essential to the forest’s life cycle, mimicking the effects of Potawatomi Indians who burned here to attract buffalo with tender green shoots of regrowth. During late summer and fall, visitors can see Short’s aster, a conservative species on the east side. Other more common species are side-flowering aster, blue-stemmed goldenrod, pale sunflower, and wild goldenglow coneflower, which is found in wetland areas.

When we crossed Roselle Road to the 1.71-mile loop trail, I couldn’t help thinking the east sector, with its industrial history, simply would not live up to the woodland’s beauty. However, as we emerged from deep shade, a beautiful wetland opened to the left, offering up great egrets, great blue herons, and a bullfrog greeting. The growing amphibian population, including the American toad, western chorus frog, and green frog, signals this former gravel pit site is becoming a healthy wetland.

A few yards down on the right, another wetland revealed unexpected signs of success. Seven young wood ducks swam by, loudly munching on green algae. A muskrat towed grasses to a new home. Numerous birds captured our attention, including a red-headed woodpecker, a pair of nesting brown creepers flitting in and out of a dead tree hollow, an eastern bluebird, and an eastern kingbird. We continued around Maple Lake, a 32-acre fishing lake, to the hill, a former landfill, where savannah sparrows reportedly nest. When Flesvig said, “This is a birder’s heaven,” he read my mind.

In the fall, visitors can find blackberries and raspberries on both sides of the preserve and vivid colors on the maples, oaks, walnut, and hickory trees.

All trails are suited for bikers, hikers, and leashed dogs. Cross-country skiing is permitted and more appropriate in the east section, but trails are not groomed. Each parking area has water fountains and restrooms; picnic tables are located near the west parking area only. Contact volunteer liaison Cindy Hedges at (630) 876-5929 or chedges@dupageforest.com for information on tours and workdays. — Beverly McClellan