Become an Urban Weed Warrior!

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks has started its own Urban Weed Warriors
program. Weed warriors can come to any of the sessions listed below to learn
about the non-native invasive problem in Baltimore City parks. Training will
include weed ID, removal techniques and native alternatives to exotic flora.
The training will lead to certification as a weed warrior, whereby
volunteers can work on their own to help control non-native invasives in
Baltimore City parks. There will also be information about organized
weed-pull activities throughout the spring and summer. Contact Janelle
Burke, Weed Warrior Program Coordinator, at janelle.burke@baltimorecity.gov
or 410-396-0359 for more information or directions.

The Conservatory in Druid Hill Park

Herring Run Watershed Association, 3545 Bel Air Rd.

Carrie Murray Nature Center



Caroline County
Adkins Arboretum
Adkins Arboretum on Maryland's Eastern Shore is seeking volunteers to assist
the staff in the removal of invasive non-natives on the Arboretum's 400-acre
site. Volunteers will be trained by the Arboretum staff.

Workdays are Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm. For more information, contact Sylvan
Kaufman at 410 634-2847 ext. 13.

Charles County
Ruth Swann Park and Chapman Forest
Dates: First Sundays, monthly
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Remove invasive non-natives from the 200-acre Swann Park and 800 acre
Chapman State Park. There will be time for plant identification and a
beautiful beach lunch. Participating organizations include MNPS and Sierra
Club. To empower ourselves, there are general methods and species-specific
methods such as best season for species, wet soil condition for pulling,
handouts, extent of area of natives seen rescued, delayed gratification,
targeted use of herbicides, and matching funds for staff to do what
volunteers find hard to do.

Directions: Meet at the Ruth B. Swann Park-Potomac Branch Library parking
lot, 20 miles south of Washington Beltway (I-495) on Rt. 210 (Indian Head
Hwy). Give yourself 30 to 40 minutes from the Beltway.  Carpool Info: Meet
at Sierra Club Md. Chapter office at 9:00 a.m.; return 5:00 p.m. Call Laurel
Imlay at 301-277-7111.  Bring gloves, lunch, and water. Durable long sleeves
and pants recommended.  Contact: Marc Imlay 301-283-0808. RSVP is welcome.

Garrett County
Savage River State Forest
Battling "Botanical Bullies" in the Bear Pen Wildlands
Volunteers are needed to help control an infestation of Japanese spiraea in
the Bear Pen Run area of Savage River State Forest.  Bear Pen is designated
as a Type 1 Wildland according to the Maryland Wildlands Act.  Like other
natural areas around  the state, Bear Pen is threatened by a variety of
exotic invasive species.  However, Ed Thompson, Maryland Heritage and
Wildlife Service ecologist, recommended the removal of Spiraea japonica from
Bear Pen as a high priority project.  First introduced as an ornamental in
the late 1800's, this perennial, deciduous shrub is still sold by many
nursery centers.  Dan Boone, Conservation Chair for the Sierra Club's
Maryland Chapter, describes the Japanese spiraea in Bear Pen as a "mess".
It forms dense colonies, displacing and reducing populations of many native
plants.  Boone thinks that the timing on this removal project couldn't be
better.

We'll try to reduce the infestation using two mechanical control methods:
cutting with loppers and pulling by hand and/or four-prong spading forks.
We'll compare the effectiveness of both techniques.  If neither works, we'll
consider a chemical control method (pending approval by Maryland DNR staff).
We'll be working on Friday, April 15 and Friday, July 22 from 9 to 12.  Mike
Gregory, manager of the Savage River Complex, will provide free camping the
night before at New Germany State Park for out-of-town volunteers.  We'll
provide snacks and drinks.  Anyone interested in exploring the Bear Pen
Wildlands with us following their volunteer work should pack a brown bag
lunch.  For more information or to register, please contact Ron Boyer or Liz
McDowell at Elk Ridge NatureWorks (301-895-3686 or
info@elkridgenatureworks.com).

Howard County
Fort Meade
A partnership between the Department of the Army, the Maryland Native Plant
Society, the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club, and volunteers

Help remove Japanese stilt grass, English ivy, garlic mustard, tree of
heaven, multiflora rose, crown vetch, Japanese honeysuckle, common privet,
phragmites, Asiatic tearthumb, etc. You will receive a short training
session from volunteers from the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club or the
Maryland Native Plant Society in the identification of, removal and control
techniques for non-native invasive plants. People of all ages, backgrounds
and interests are invited to spend a day outdoors, hand-pulling some
non-native weed populations while learning about the differences between
native and non-native plants and helping to preserve the health and native
wildlife of the natural areas located on a U.S. Army installation.

Where and When
Fort Meade Army Installation
Second Saturday of every month at 10:00 a.m.
Directions: Take Route 175 East from the 295 Baltimore Washington Parkway.
Take Llewellyn Avenue South onto the installation. A Ft. Meade
representative will meet you at guard station to escort you to work site.

Bring hand tools, gloves, lunch and water. Long sleeves and pants
recommended.  Contact Don Marquardt at 301-677-9185 or e-mail
marquardtd@emh1.ftmeade.army.mil

Invasive workshops on Patuxent Research Refuge


Patuxent is holding a series of environmental education
workshops that will combine a brief educational shpiel with a work day for
any volunteers who come out.  The dates of these workshops so far are:

Tuesday June 28
Sunday July 10
Wednesday July 20
Monday August 22
Sunday August 28
Saturday September 17


Marilyn

 Marilyn Eames
Wildlife Biologist
Patuxent Research Refuge
12100 Beech Forest Road
Suite 138
Laurel, MD  20708
301-497-5949
Marilyn_Eames@ws.gov

Middle Patuxent Environmental Area
Conservation Stewardship Project at the Middle Patuxent Environmental
Area(MPEA) and elsewhere in Howard County will be meeting on the fourth
Tuesdays of the month from 9:30am-noon. Each trip will have both an
educational component and a work component.

For information, directions or to register, contact Aylene Gard,
410-992-9889, or Robin Hessey, rmhessey@umd.edu. The Conservation
Stewardship project is sponsored by Howard County Recreation and Parks and
the Howard County Master Gardeners.

Patapsco State Park
Garlic Mustard Challenge
Betsy McMillion
Friends of the Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway

The 6th annual Garlic Mustard Challenge, sponsored by the Friends of the
Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway, was held in the Avalon Area of Patapsco
State Park in Relay, Maryland on Sunday, May 1, proved to be a successful
event!  A total of 1,120 pounds of the invasive garlic mustard weed was
removed by volunteers by this one-day event.

Approximately 100 participants joined in for the annual weed pulling,
cooking and poster challenge.  While the bags of weeds were being weighed,
there were several environmental exhibits on display, music, games and
donated prizes for the participants.  Over 20 posters by local child artists
depicting the "Villain of the Valley" garlic mustard plant were on display,
as well as a variety of dishes containing the garlic mustard herb prepared
by local amateur chefs.  The results of the weed weighing, taste-testing and
poster-judging from our esteemed judges provided the following winners:

Winner of the Adult Amateur Chef contest was Rita Chelton of Elkridge (who
also won last year).  Her prize winning recipe was her Garlic Mustard Herb
Chicken dish.

Winner of the Youth Amateur Chef contest was Alex Streat of Elkridge (Long
Reach High School Student) who is a three time winner out of the six Garlic
Mustard Challenge contests that he has entered over the last six years.  His
prize winning recipe was Garlic Mustard With Chipped Beef dish.

First place winner of the most pounds of garlic mustard pulled per
participant was the 3-person "Aestes" team, pulling 73.67 pounds per
participant and a total of 221 pounds.  Team members were Van Mensil, from
Relay; Hanum Wensil-Strow from Elkridge and Kelci Schexnayder from Arbutus.

First place winning team of the most pounds of garlic mustard pulled was the
8-person "Patapsco Pullers" team, pulling 266 pounds.  Team members were:
Garrett Reid, Gaelyn Reid, Mariam Cooper, Daniel Goodrich, Kate DaGrava,
Sarah Yalov, John Yalov and Catena Badolato all from Baltimore County.

There were 20 entries for the "Villain of the Valley Poster Contest."  Most
of them were from Elkridge Elementary School.  The first place winner of the
poster contest was 12 year old Garrett Reid, who is home schooled by his
mom.  He opted to choose the $50 gift certificate from Toys R Us.

The Garlic Mustard Challenge is an annual event which is held the first
Sunday of May in Patapsco State Park in an effort to educate and public and
remove the invasive garlic mustard plant from the park.   The Friends of the
and to educate others about how to help preserve.  Volunteers are always
welcome!  For more details, visit
www.patapscoheritagegreenway.org/garlic05/index.html.

Betsy McMillion, Event Coordinator

 For information call Friends of the Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway,
410-480-0824 .



For regular monthly events sponsored by Patapsco Riverkeeper for about ten
species of non-native plants contact Lee Walker Oxenham
Patapsco Riverkeeper, Inc
410-313-8826
Our endeavors will take place at Patapsco Valley State Park - right off Rte
1 in Elkridge.  Light refreshemtns will be provided.  Bring any pruning and
digging gear you have, especially gauntlets.

The area is suffering from invasive everything - especially kudzu and ivy
and grape vines, but we also have tree of heaven and mile a minute.  It's a
depressing sight seeing all the vines taking over and literally pulling the
trees down.  Can't wait til we drag them down and FREE THE TREES!



Montgomery County
Brookside Gardens
Weed Warriors are needed for the forested areas surrounding the gardens.
You will be given directions so that you may work independently, weekends or
weekdays, on your own schedule.  Contact: Stacy Parsons 301-962-1417 or
stacy.parsons@mncppc-mc.org .  Websites: www.BrooksideGardens.org and/or
www.MC-MNCPPC.org/environment/weed_warriors/intro.shtm

Chevy Chase, Woodend Sanctuary
The Audubon Naturalist Society is seeking volunteers to help remove
non-native plants from its Woodend Sanctuary, in Chevy Chase, MD, every
second Saturday of the month between 9 a.m. and noon. Volunteers will be
trained by staff and/or experienced volunteers. Call 301-652-9188 x 30 for
more information or to sign up.

Montgomery County Parks
Weed Warriors Wanted!
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's (M-NCPPC)Forest
Ecologist is assembling a team of volunteers (Weed Warriors) to monitor and
remove non-native invasive plant species in Montgomery County Parks, and we
need your help! As a Weed Warrior volunteer, you will receive a short
training session from the forest ecologist in the identification of, removal
and control techniques for non-native invasive plants. Weed Warriors can
then work at their own pace and choose a schedule that best suits them.
Many current Weed Warriors live near a M-NCPPC Stream Valley Park or
Regional Park and do their volunteer work while walking their dogs or taking
an occasional hike through their neighborhood park. Whether you choose to
work individually or in a group, your efforts will contribute to the control
of non-native vegetation in the 28,000 acres of Montgomery County parkland.
Contact: Carole Bergmann, M-NCPPC Forest Ecologist, at 301-949-2818 for more
info or to sign up.

Sligo Creek Park
The RIP Project in Sligo Creek Park
Friends of Sligo Creek expects to launch RIP, its Removing Invasive Plants
Project in April. RIP is an all-out effort to remove the invasive vines and
shrubs in Sligo Creek. We will gradually build a corps of residents to come
out for regular organized events in each section of the park. We welcome
anyone who would like to take part in the fun!  All Friends of Sligo Creek
plant removal activity is done under the auspices of the Parks Department.
For more information see www.fosc.org/RIPP.htm, or contact Sally Gagne,
sgagne@erols.com  301-588-2071.

Prince George's County
Greenbelt Homes Inc Housing Cooperative, Greenbelt
The Greenbelt Homes Inc. (GHI) housing cooperative in Old Greenbelt has
85.6acres of stewardship forest as well as other wooded parcels. The
Woodlands Committee is actively involved with urban forestry management.
Regular work sessions for the removal/eradication of non-native invasive
plant species are scheduled throughout the year. Also scheduled are bird
counts and plant identification seminars and field experience.
The City of Greenbelt has passed, in principle, a forest ordinance for large
parcels of its woodlands. The City is establishing a committee to work out
the management details. For more information on GHI Woodlands Committee
activities, contact Mary Kingsley at mkingsley@hotmail.com. Mary and her
husband, Roger, are also Sierra Club members.

Greenbelt National Park, Greenbelt
Invasive Plant Removal first Saturday of each month
Located just 12 miles from Washington D.C., Greenbelt Park  is a beloved
retreat from the city and an important refuge for native plants and animals.
Come join us in defending Greenbelt Park from encroachment by alien invasive
plant growth. Volunteers will be hand pulling harmful non-native plants such
as Japanese honeysuckle, beefsteak mint, mile-a-minute weed and garlic
mustard. People of all ages, backgrounds and interests are invited to spend
a fun day outdoors while learning about the differences between native and
non-native plants and helping to preserve the health and native wildlife of
this local natural area. Bring lunch, drink, appropriate clothing for
weather.

Directions: From the Beltway, take Kenilworth Avenue south about 1/4 mile to
Greenbelt Rd, MD 193 (Kenilworth goes under 193). Stay to the right so you
can take MD 193 East (a left to go over Kenilworth) for only a few hundred
yards to the park entrance. Follow the signs to the Sweetgum picnic area.
For any questions and information about upcoming events, contact Tom Croneat
tomnjan@erols.com or 301-864-1959 or Kate Odell at kateo@wam.umd.edu
or301-474-5395

Cheverly.The Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek hosts the monthly
removal of non-native invasive plants from Woodworth Park
on the last Saturday of every month, from 9:30-2:00. 

 

All age groups can help rescue our native flowers,
ferns and other plants from the non-native species which are
covering 30-90 percent of the surface area of our parks we
have worked so hard to preserve. Tools are provided, but wear
work gloves and sturdy shoes.

 

Contact Cathy and Dan Smith at 301 386-0889 for status if it

is or may be raining.


Directions:

Take 202 East under the BW parkway. Go one block and
turn right on Cheverly. Go one mile and turn left on Forest
Road. Go 2 blocks passing Church on left snd turn right on
Parkway. Go 2 blocks and turn left on Wayne for one
block. We meet there at the park by the small playground.

St. Mary's County
Helens Creek
to receive updates about workdays email or call Bob Boxwell, Executive
Director, Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust, P.O. Box 336, Lusby, MD 20657,
410-394-1300, or bobboxwell@hotmail.comlot.

American Chestnut Land Trust
Join the Holly Arboretum Volunteer Crew as they maintain the historic holly
trees at Warrior's Rest. Work includes invasive vine removal, mulching,
mowing & pruning. Bring work gloves, clippers and a smile.

10 September 2005

American Chestnut Land Trust
Post Office Box 204
Port Republic, MD 20676

Phone: 410-586-1570
Fax: 410-586-0468

Anacostia Watershed Society Assists Weed Warriors
Non-native invasive species of plants such as English Ivy, Japanese
Stiltgrass and Kudzu are covering the natural areas that we in the
conservation movement have worked so hard to protect from habitat
destruction, erosion and water pollution.  Just as we are making progress on
wetlands, stream bank stabilization, and endangered species, these plants
from other parts of the world have covered 30-90% of the surface area of our
forests, streams and meadows. Many of us feel demoralized and powerless to
combat these invaders that have few natural herbivores or other controls.

The Anacostia Watershed Society is establishing a program to provide  local
friends groups and public and private landowners with several models to draw
upon in the Anacostia watershed and in the region. We are assisting in
developing a major work effort (three to five years) at each site to remove
massive populations of about a dozen species. Regular stewardship projects
are conducted in all seasons including winter, early spring, late spring,
summer, and late summer.  This high-intensity program is followed by a
low-intensity annual maintenance program to eliminate plants we have missed,
plants emerging from the seed bank, and occasional plants migrating in from
neighboring areas. Several ongoing projects we are presently assisting
include Magruder Park, Hyattsville, Lower Beaverdam Creek in Cheverly,
Little Paint Branch Park and Cherry Hill Road Community Park in Beltsville.

Please contact Marc Imlay, PhD, Conservation biologist, Anacostia Watershed
Society (301-699-6204, 301-283-0808) for dates and times.