The middle of April marks the beginning of the woodland wildflower season. Soon, native flowers such as Large-flowered Trillium, Dutchman's Breeches, Bloodroot and Lady's Slipper will grace the forest floor. High above, trees are just starting to leaf out and the world is turning green again.
If you look closely, you'll find that much of the spring green we see nowadays wasn't there twenty years ago. In recent decades, Garlic Mustard, an invasive exotic species from Europe, has swept like wildfire through America's woodland habitats. In some areas (such as large portions of CNC), a dense blanket of garlic mustard grows so thick and tall it chokes out most other native species, including tree seedlings.
The problem has gotten so bad, in fact, that some land managers are calling Garlic Mustard one of the most harmful and difficult to control invasive plants in our region. The plants reproduce very rapidly and actually emit chemicals into the soil to prevent other species from growing near them.
Garlic Mustard control on Nature Center property consists of pulling the plant in target areas, such as in the Oxbow Woods, in order to prevent it from spreading.
What can you do? First, get to knowthis prolific plant and make sure it doesn't grow in your yard at home! Next, consider joining the Stewardship Network's Garlic Mustard Challenge 2009. Last year, the challenge sponsored events which recorded a whopping 128,470 pounds of garlic mustard pulled! This year there are many places to volunteer to help reach their new goal of 200,000 pounds! Learn more about the garlic mustard problem by watching this great video. After you do, head outside and pull!
Garlic Mustard Identification and Control
from Barbara Lucas on Vimeo.
The middle of April marks the beginning of the woodland wildflower season. Soon, native flowers such as Large-flowered Trillium, Dutchman's Breeches, Bloodroot and Lady's Slipper will grace the forest floor. High above, trees are just starting to leaf out and the world is turning green again.
If you look closely, you'll find that much of the spring green we see nowadays wasn't there twenty years ago. In recent decades, Garlic Mustard, an invasive exotic species from Europe, has swept like wildfire through America's woodland habitats. In some areas (such as large portions of CNC), a dense blanket of garlic mustard grows so thick and tall it chokes out most other native species, including tree seedlings.
The problem has gotten so bad, in fact, that some land managers are calling Garlic Mustard one of the most harmful and difficult to control invasive plants in our region. The plants reproduce very rapidly and actually emit chemicals into the soil to prevent other species from growing near them.
Garlic Mustard control on Nature Center property consists of pulling the plant in target areas, such as in the Oxbow Woods, in order to prevent it from spreading.
What can you do? First, get to know this prolific plant and make sure it doesn't grow in your yard at home! Next, consider joining the Stewardship Network's Garlic Mustard Challenge 2009. Last year, the challenge sponsored events which recorded a whopping 128,470 pounds of garlic mustard pulled! This year there are many places to volunteer to help reach their new goal of 200,000 pounds! Learn more about the garlic mustard problem by watching this great video. After you do, head outside and pull!
Garlic Mustard Identification and Control
from Barbara Lucas on Vimeo.
No comments:
Post a Comment