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LAKE FOREST, ILL. – Lake Forest Open Lands Association paid tribute to a select group of outstanding volunteers at their May 13, 2015 annual meeting. Included in this special group as chosen by the Lake Forest Open Lands land management team was Mariani Landscape Quality Control Operations Manager Chris Paisley.
Paisley was instrumental in facilitating prescribed burns at the Lake Forest Open Lands Mellody Farm Nature Preserve and many of their other preservation sites. A prescribed burn is used to rejuvenate a prairie by removing excess leaf litter, increase available nutrients in the soil and at the same time suppresses many weeds and non-native invasive plant species. In performing this task, great care was taken with local and state authorization required. Paisley has been certified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and has performed numerous burns in the Chicago area.
Paisley was recognized at the Lake Forest Open Lands Annual meeting held at Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest. Also in attendance was Mariani Landscape President, Fred Wacker III.
Mariani Landscape supports Lake Forest Open Lands in many ways, one of which is a donated native garden designed by John Mariani. Mariani Landscape also provides special maintenance services and container designs for the historic Mellody Farm Nature Preserve, which serves as the headquarters for Lake Forest Open Lands and also as a community environmental learning center.