tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post3710870281475732021..comments2024-01-30T03:16:18.674-08:00Comments on Vestal Grove: Leave Nature Alone? Stephen Packardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-75480860597639967732019-03-14T09:44:20.086-07:002019-03-14T09:44:20.086-07:00Ryan, thanks for the question. Yes, the orchids co...Ryan, thanks for the question. Yes, the orchids continue to thrive at the Somme preserves - with one hundred to five hundred plants blooming annually. Yes, the natural pollinators (longer tongued hawk moths) are pollinating many of them these days. Some populations seem to be well pollinated by the hawk moths, some not. It would be great if someone studied them and determined why. <br /><br />I hope to write a fuller update on this plant one of these days or years. Stephen Packardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-33585459511640407962019-02-27T20:23:37.939-08:002019-02-27T20:23:37.939-08:00Has the orchid continued to thrive? I'm guessi...Has the orchid continued to thrive? I'm guessing so or you wouldn't have linked in your more recent post.<br /><br />Has the burgeoning population of orchids attracted more hawk moths? There must have been a lot of them in a healthy prairie to sustain the orchids. I wonder what limits them now. Among the listed hosts are grapevines, which ought to be common enough. Could favored nighttime nectar sources be scarce? Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-11305722509226416462012-09-28T07:09:53.696-07:002012-09-28T07:09:53.696-07:00James, thanks for the compliment. And, yes, perman...James, thanks for the compliment. And, yes, permanent dedication as an Illinois Nature Preserve is something that's been discussed for many years and seems to be slowly moving forward. It's a good idea, but it deserves careful thought. This would be the first site where nature preserve dedication would be approved principally on the basis of the successful restoration of a badly damaged community. Stephen Packardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-44778329624645044592012-09-22T15:40:42.399-07:002012-09-22T15:40:42.399-07:00Stephen, When is your little piece of paradise go...Stephen, When is your little piece of paradise going to be designated a State Nature Preserve? It seems that with the current leadership of the FPDCC, conveying this designation on Somme Savannah would be prudent. Especially considering the population of the EPFO that now resides at this site.<br /><br />JamesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-72766842153793271342012-09-11T08:51:58.281-07:002012-09-11T08:51:58.281-07:00What a pleasure! A comment by Ian Lunt. For anyone...What a pleasure! A comment by Ian Lunt. For anyone who hasn't seen it, Ian's blog provides a peek into Australian savanna restoration - http://ianluntresearch.wordpress.com/. Fine graphics support fun and wise writing. When Bernie Buchholz of Nachusa introduced me to Ian's blog, I quickly deleted most of my dull earlier efforts and tried to do better. It's amazing to see parallels and differences between the North American and Australian grasslands. Stephen Packardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-58449260389404507702012-09-09T03:47:40.128-07:002012-09-09T03:47:40.128-07:00That's a wonderful outcome Steve. I marvel at ...That's a wonderful outcome Steve. I marvel at your patience and persistence. Had you given up after just (!) 21 years, the world would have been worse off. Thanks for another great example of a fantastic restoration process, best wishes IanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-39056551462877997252012-09-08T07:35:30.958-07:002012-09-08T07:35:30.958-07:00Thank you for another excellent post on Chicago ar...Thank you for another excellent post on Chicago area plants and natural areas. Of course, as one of the subjects of your article, I might be a little biased. As to the answer to your question (Leave Nature Alone?), I believe that the level of environmental degradation is such that leaving nature alone is no longer an option.Rufino Osoriohttp://rufino-osorio.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-61907023957681586982012-09-07T18:29:16.919-07:002012-09-07T18:29:16.919-07:00I can just hear the orchids say: "Thank you,...I can just hear the orchids say: "Thank you, Steve." "Thank you, Rufino!" My heart is happy. Thank you from me, too, for this beautiful essay. And the wonderful thing is, so many other folks have taken up the banner and are doing restoration at other sites on behalf of these charismatic, sexy plants. orchidartisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09037521960510790783noreply@blogger.com