Rooted in Passion: Meet Lake Forest’s New City Forester

By Kristin Elliott Kelly Bougher, Lake Forest's new City Forester, brings a deep love for trees, a sharp eye for sustainability and a passion for preserving Lake Forest’s natural beauty. Lake Forest Love sat down with her to learn more about her background, her vision and a few leafy surprises along the way.

What inspired you to pursue this career? My background is in natural areas restoration and ecology, and I was always intrigued by trees. I worked in forest preserves and gained more knowledge and understanding about our native forests. I grew up in Chicago, and that exposure to an immense urban environment eventually led me to pursue a career working in urban forestry to preserve and enhance diversity in a city setting. I am proud to work for the City of Lake Forest and its residents, who care deeply about their trees.

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever encountered in the field? At one of my previous jobs, I was in the bucket truck to cut a large, rotten dead oak limb that extended over a high-use trail. While up in the canopy, I noticed the oak had a large cavity in the trunk not visible from the ground. As I was cutting pieces of the limb, I noticed movement back near the trunk and was startled by a raccoon peering at me from the inside cavity, investigating what all the noise was!

"Being proactive is the best way to monitor for potential decline in a tree’s health and take steps to protect it before it’s too late," says Kelly Bougher.

Two other interesting wildlife encounters I’ve also had while doing tree work were a hibernating bat that flew out from behind peeling bark on a dead ash I was felling (also startled me) and a flying squirrel that was swooping near me because she was not happy that I was felling a dead tree near her nest. I startled my own crew a few years back while stumping a dead elm. I looked down and saw a huge morel mushroom next to my foot and shrieked in excitement, and they thought I’d cut my leg with the chainsaw, but then rolled their eyes when they realized I was only excited about a hard-to-find mushroom I’d found by surprise.

Do you have a favorite tree in Lake Forest? And a favorite park? My favorite park is Triangle Park, where my favorite tree also happens to be. The park has a diverse mix of unique tree species, and my favorite tree there is a hackberry with a large limb that leans towards and partially rests on the ground. I learned better limb-walking techniques during a tree-climbing training on that same tree with my mentor, the late Norm Hall, who also said it was his favorite tree in Lake Forest – so it has extra sentimental value to me.

What’s something about trees most people don’t know? Most trees and plants have a symbiotic relationship with mycelium (the root-like structure of fungi). In this relationship, fungi help the plants and trees absorb nutrients and water, while the fungi are then provided with sugars produced through photosynthesis. This intricate network, known as a mycorrhizal network, connects trees and other plants, facilitating resource sharing and extending nutrients and water to them. Mycorrhizae are crucial for plant and tree health, growth, and survival, and play a vital role in soil structure and nutrient cycling. This relationship is sometimes referred to as the “wood wide web."

How can residents get involved in helping our trees thrive? Generally, keeping awareness is one of the most important ways residents can help our trees thrive. Staying educated on current or potential upcoming threats to our trees, whether insects or pathogens, helps us stay aware and have early detection with the anticipation of a rapid response to treat and control these potential impacts to our trees. If we are paying attention, we will notice even small changes - fungi growing on tree roots, trunks, or limbs; less flower production, leaves changing color in an off time of year; stunted, deformed leaves or less leaf production; insects pests you haven’t seen before; strange marks on bark, limbs, and leaves; or noticeable large limb decline or drop. Being proactive is the best way to monitor for potential decline in a tree’s health and take steps to protect it before it’s too late.

Want to "branch out” and learn more about Lake Forest’s trees or upcoming planting events? Keep an eye on the Forestry page on the City’s website!