Friends of Hickory Hill Park

06/05/2026

We had a wonderful event tonight at The Green House. Our annual meeting to update Friends on our work and news of projects for the coming year. We are immensely grateful to artists Amy Dobrian, Claudia McGehee, Ariane Parks-Perret, Teresa Galluzzo, and Dani Sigler for being with us and for Thomas Agran and Emily Wilson who also shared their art in the exhibit. Thank you also to the Green House for welcoming FHHP and making a home for local art.

05/10/2026

From our Sycamore Greenway Friends.

When you think of non-native species running amok, mushrooms may not be the first things you think of. But Golden Oyster Mushrooms have been spreading rapidly since first escaping from cultivation a quarter-century ago.

These fungi, native to east Asia, are commonly used in cooking, were first noticed in the wild in Wisconsin. They may outcompete native fungi, and their quick work in decomposing dead trees may also have a negative impact on native decomposers, seedlings, and others who would normally make use of the wood.

Read more at https://www.science.org/content/article/mushroom-escaped-kitchens-could-be-harming-north-american-wildlife.

05/09/2026

Join us on Thursday, June 4, at The Green House from 6-8:00 PM for an annual meeting and celebration of Hickory Hill Park as a creative resource and inspiration for artists.

We’ll be sharing information on our efforts to restore native landscapes in the park and news of exciting projects on the horizon.

The exhibit,”Whose Woods These Are: A Creative Survey of Hickory Hill Park,” will be on display at The Green House during the month of June.

04/19/2026

The Mayapple are ready for you to visit. More spring wildflowers coming soon.

04/15/2026

The large colonies of Mayapple are just waiting for a little sunlight to unfurl their leaves. It won’t be long.

04/12/2026

The spring ephemerals are beginning to appear in the woodlands of the park. Rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

04/11/2026

April rain is greening up the recently burned west prairie.

04/07/2026

Spring Volunteer Workday #4
Saturday, April 24
9:00 AM to noon
Meet at the north entrance of the park on Conklin Lane
Wear long work pants and close-toes shoes. BYO water.

03/30/2026

Earlier this week, controlled burns were completed in the northwest prairie and in woodlands to the north along the Twin Oaks Trail. With rain on its way later this week, the area should turn from black to green quickly.