SUNDAY, AUGUST 14: THIRD BLITZ DAY

Having a work bee is a bit like throwing a party without an invitation list - hard to know how many will turn up. The numbers were down somewhat, 15 instead of the couple dozen we averaged in the first two bees, but still a solid turnout. And people worked very hard, most staying for three hours til noon and several for the full four.

We worked along the Bill Holland trail, the goal being to get rid of the DSV climbing up into the sumacs. Many of these vines were reaching heights of two metres and more and full of pods that would have soon been releasing seeds. The section from the Interpretation Centre to the main sign at the parking lot is now pretty much free of DSV.

A dozen people worked this area while Tony Denton and two others went into the ravine below the nursery to work on DSV down there. The ravine harbours a good deal more DSV than realized, being out of sight and mind unless one makes the trip down. In addition to a number of bags of DSV being hauled up, Tony freed a hawthorn from the dual affliction of DSV and wild grape.

Where's Waldo Hedrick?

Along the South Side of Bill Holland Trail - Before the Work Started

Along the South Side of the Bill Holland Trail After all the Hard Work

Along the North Side of Bill Holland Trail - Before the Work Started

Same Area after lots of Muscle Power

The success of this third effort is demonstrated by some 40 bags of cut DSV plants, piled on top of several wheelbarrow loads of loose cuttings - the equivalent of about 45 bags. This is a huge amount, probably the most yet for a blitz day this year or last. Well done!

See more pictures here.

Another Weeding Bee!

We had SUCH a great time and accomplished so much during our July weeding bees that we want to relive the experience on August 14th (Sunday).

 

Please come and help!

Not sure?  You can find out more about one of the July Weeding Bees we had and see how much fun everyone had.  Well, I think everyone had fun, but if not fun, then at least a great sense of accomplishment. 

 

No need to work ALL morning - an hour or so would be much appreciated. There might even be an opportunity to try out a scythe if you look serious and responsible and stay away from everyone else.

Bring: Gloves, long sleeves (some people get a mild rash from Dog-strangling Vine), water, sun protection

Where: Meet at the Interpretation Centre, just past the roundabout going south on Prince of Wales Drive.

Come on out and see how big a DSV pile you can make.

Info: fletcher@ofnc.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY, JULY 10: FIRST BLITZ DAY

The blitz day - aka Weeding Bee - was a huge success!

About 25 people came out, including most of the TISG group, joined by Geoff's wife Judy, honourary member for the day. The main target area was in the Butterfly Meadow, between the tarp and the rail fence to the north. This is a large patch, with a lot of DSV mingling with many other plants that belong in the meadow. The group worked very hard, most people being there from 9 to about 1, with a mid-morning break at the Interpretation Centre.

The area was pretty much cleared of DSV, taken out entirely by pulling. This is proving to be the most efficient way of taking out DSV that is growing among other plants. Although the DSV stems seem to become more brittle as the plant matures, it was still quite easy to pull them out singly and in clumps without breaking them off. The pulled plants were carted to the sumac growing on the south side of the ravine, where they were used as a thick mulch. The understory of this extensive stand of sumac is almost entirely DSV; vines reaching up into the trees were torn down before armloads of DSV from the meadow were tossed on top. We'll need to monitor this for effectiveness. Several of us took photos, for both the TISG blog and the FWG blog.