Bartlett Woods

Description

This preserve is a 23 acre mesic forest remnant of the historical prairie grove known as Knox Grove. Originally, mesic forests were not abundant in the Grand Prairie Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division - only 5 to 7% of Lee County was actually forested. However, today only 1,000 acres of high quality mesic upland forest remain in the entire Section which encompasses 29 counties. Bartlett Woods lies in a low, flat area between the Theiss and LaMoille moraines which were deposited during Pleistocene glaciation. The relief within the woods is gentle, with several shallow ravines that drain into Bureau Creek. The dominant tree species are sugar maple, red oak, white oak, red elm, and basswood. Black walnut, butternut, and hop hornbeam are frequent. The herbaceous layer is rich and varied with common woodland wildflowers such as doll's eyes, columbine, trout lily, and miterwort.