The Friends of the Shiawassee River and our partners at DeVries Nature Conservancy, located in Owosso, have worked collaboratively to remove garlic mustard from the woodlots at DeVries. Volunteer removal occurrs each spring by pulling out individual plants from the soil surface. Plants are easily identified and removal helps create better habitat for our native wildflowers and vegetation. Students and others needing volunteer hours are encouraged to participate in this peaceful activity on the DeVries Nature Conservancy property. Harvested materials will be used for the Garlic Mustard Pestival on Thursday, May 13, 2010
Spring 2010 invasive workdays include: 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8
Please visit our calendar to view workdays and other events!
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| To date, volunteers with DNC and FOSR have removed over one ton of garlic mustard. Photo by FOSR. |
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Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is a biennial, a plant with a two-year life cycle, growing its first year as a seedling and rosette stage plant and flowering the subsequent year. It most often grows in the forest understory or along forest edges but is also able to invade undisturbed forest habitats. It tolerates low light levels and is adapted to take advantage of disturbed habitats such as trails, roadsides and areas where trees have been removed. Garlic mustard has no significant natural enemies in North America, although a diverse community of herbivores feed on it in its native range in Europe. Populations of garlic mustard can spread rapidly. In a study of high quality woodlots, i.e. typically old growth or undisturbed forest habitat in Illinois, garlic mustard advanced an average of about 20 feet per year, expanding as much as 120 feet in one year. When established, garlic mustard becomes a permanent member of the community, often dominating the ground layer habitat over extensive areas.
Info provided by Michigan State University Extension http://www.ipm.msu.edu/garlicAbout.htm
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| Photo by FOSR. |
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| The Friends of the Shiawassee River have been involved in establishing native vegetation along the River since 1997 and the removal and suppression of invasive trees in that area. Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven) is an invasive, non-native tree that has threatened native plantings near the Owosso Airport and Jim Miner Walkway. The FOSR have partnered with other organizations to ensure its suppression and are currently working with an Eagle Scout candidate on removal in 2010.
Removal dates will be Saturday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 20 from 9:30 until noon each day.
To help remove Ailanthus, please contact Mike Doherty at rcdoherty4@aol.com.
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