Forest Preserves of Cook County 2025 Fall Brochure

On a quiet morning at Wolf Road Prairie, a group of volunteers fans out across the tallgrass, paper bags in hand. Their task is simple, but essential: collect native seeds to help restore and expand this gem of Illinois prairie. “It’s such a rare remnant of what used to be a large part of the state—one-hundredth of one percent of the original prairie in Illinois remains. And this is a significant part of it,” says volunteer Don Cronin. “Nature, to me, is the place to go. It’s very rejuvenating.” Across the Forest Preserves of Cook County, seed collecting is a seasonal process that requires patience, knowledge and coordination. Volunteers look for ripened seeds, gather them carefully and then sort and store them. Later, they often return them to the land to grow new plants. “We understand seeds are everything,” says volunteer site steward Mary Zaander. “They’re the base for restoration work. Even here, at Wolf Road Prairie, there are places that don’t have the diversity of our higher quality spots.” Mary has been volunteering in prairie restoration since 1989. “I have a lot of experience, but I’m learning all the time,” says Zaander. “There’s so much nuance to it.” Prairie Therapy Volunteers Find Purpose and Peace in Seed Collecting Image: Rattlesnake master and ironweed are collected and sorted in the prairie. 18