Dear Friends:
Several dedicated volunteers have been helping to control musk thistles at the park. More keep popping up as the summer progresses. Thank you.
Today, I rode around the park with the park superintendent, Joshua Thompson, and identified several places where spot mowing could help control three other invasive plants, wild parsnip, Canada thistle, and yellow sweet clover. All three species can be reduced if they are prevented from going to seed. Right now is the time to mow while they are in flower. Mowing later will only spread the seed. Joshua is well aware of the benefits of milkweeds for Monarch butterflies and he will instruct the mower to avoid cutting common, swamp, and butterfly milkweed, all of which are now in bloom.
The city is also preparing the damaged areas near the savanna for seeding with a prairie mix that includes several savanna species of grasses and forbs.
We are gradually establishing a good relationship with the park staff. If anyone has any suggestions please contact me.
The Conservation Corps will be back in late July to work two more days on removing Siberian Elm.
Erv Klaas
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