New Learning Space for Little Ones at Mellody Farm

For years at Mellody Farm, an inconspicuous wetland lay tucked away in the eastern part of the preserve. After the spring rains each year, chorus frogs were attracted to its fishless water to breed and lay their eggs. But the ephemeral pool would dry up before the chorus frogs could complete their metamorphosis from tadpole to adult. Over the last eight months, this wetland has undergone a major restoration: it has been expanded and made deeper, and several limestone perching rocks have been installed.  Native species have been planted, including swamp white oaks, sedges and over fifteen different kinds of flowering plants.

Patrick’s Puddle, as the newly established wetland is named, will provide younger children with a wetland teaching area that’s closer to the Lockhart Family Nature Center than the one they had been using. The rocks make it possible for children to get very close to the water, where they can be surrounded by and observe a wetland habitat teeming with life. “We will be able to teach the next generation about the importance of wetlands in our native landscapes,” says Director of Education Jeremy Batson. 

Funding for the restoration was donated by Joan McGuinn and many friends in memory of Joan’s son Patrick. Joan felt this project would be a wonderful tribute to Patrick’s interest in and strong connection to the natural world. She herself, along with many of Patrick’s friends, assisted in the hands-on restoration work.     

Mellody Farm Nature Preserve

In 1994, Open Lands partnered with a local developer to save 50 acres of a 76-acre site in the Middlefork River Valley. This parcel had formerly been heavily farmed and grazed. Open Lands has restored several wetlands, prairies and a large oak savanna. In 1997 Open Lands partnered with the Friends of the Chicago River and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore over 2000 feet of riverbank frontage along the Middlefork River. Now, spring and summer bring a flush of blooming wildflowers including trillium, shooting stars, swamp milkweed and nodding wild onion. Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks and many other colorful bird species frequent the wetlands, savanna and priaires within the preserve.

At the time of our acquisition, Mellody Farm still had the historic estate entry gates and gatehouse. In 1999, Open Lands renovated the entire gatehouse complex and renamed it the Lockhart Family Nature Center, Lake Forest's first nature center. It now serves as Open Lands' environmental education center.

Mellody Farm Nature Preserve is located on the southwest corner of Deerpath and Waukegan Roads.