Friday August 5 and Saturday August 6

Friday, August 5: Barry photographed the work done on Tuesday, apart from the piles of DSV, already removed by AAFC.  He continued scything the area on the south side of the ravine that he and Geoff had started, working around the trees and down the upper slope of the ravine until stopped by a large stand of flowering raspberries.

There seems to be little DSV further into the ravine beyond this stand, although clumps of DSV appear at other places. The area between the mystery circle and the walnut tree is now mostly cleared, but some mop-up is still required, including raking up and stacking the cut plants.

Saturday, August 6: Geoff came in the morning to work just west of the mystery circle, clearing out the area bounded by it, the east-west trail and the sumac stand. His photographs of the work done include an impressive stack of cut DSV!

BEFORE

AFTER

AND, HERE'S WHERE ALL THE DSV WENT!

We are now ready to move east, to the three areas north of the Ash Woods. The first of these, between the north-south trail and the line of tamaracks, is in pretty good shape, there being so many trees, bushes and other plants that the DSV is pretty well confined to the out perimeter - or so it seemed on first look on Friday. The other areas are heavy with DSV which has climbed into the many scattered trees and bushes. Sandy pointed out a black-and-white paper wasp nest in one of the trees near the trail. We will need to avoid this, as this species will attack aggressively if disturbed.

Two more work bees have been scheduled, for Sunday August 14 and Sunday September 11.  Notices are being put on the website and in the upcoming newsletter.

A Hero in the Battle of Invasive Species

As bad a Dog-Strangling Vine (DSV) is, we have to be so grateful that Kudzu is not a problem in the Ottawa area.  

Kudzu is a terribly aggressive invasive in the US and now in some areas of Canada (e.g. Lake Erie).  Originally from Japan, it was once thought to be an erosion control solution in the States.  Now, it has gotten out of control.  It grows up to 30 centimetres a day, blanketing everything in its path, including hydro poles, fences, houses and highway signs.  Control has been extremely difficult and expensive.   

And now, here is a 16 year old guy with a solution, the "Kudzu Kid".    Originally, Jacob Schindler had hopes of making his mark by growing Kudzu on Mars.  When he realized that wouldn't work because of the amounts of helium on Mars, the wheels started turning and he tried injecting helium into the tuberous roots of Kudzu.  Zap.  Success.  Patents are pending.  Experiments are running.  Looks like this is working. 

Maybe Jacob will turn his mind to DSV?

WEEK 13, July 26

Volunteers: Barry, Geoff, Glenda, Hedrik, Christine plus 7 members of the Heffner family.

The Heffners joined us this week, volunteering as a means of off-setting the environmental costs of their trip from Michigan. This is an admirable idea and they were with us for about 2 hours, until our morning got called by an incredible thunderstorm. The Heffners worked along the part of the Bill Holland trail closest to the IC and on the ravine side, then moved briefly to the field east of the Butterfly Meadow. Their main activity was clearing DSV from around and in the trees, sumacs along the trail and cedars in the field.

While Barry was with the Heffners, Glenda, Geoff and Hedrik returned to the Green Heron road to continue last week's work, along the road toward the Butterfly Meadow. AAFC had picked up the stacks of DSV cut last week and now have more to pick up.

Christine continued her work in the Old Field and also along the fence on the north slope of the Amphibian Pond.   Geoff then switched to the field east of the Meadow.  Glenda and Barry and the Heffners joined him there for the last half hour. We made good progress on this field and we should be able to finish it next week. After that, it's on the fields north of the Ash Woods.

The Heffner Family Gives Back to the Environment

This week we had the pleasure of having the Heffner family from Grand Rapids, Michigan work with us in our efforts to control Dog-strangling Vine (DSV).  Pictured above are Ken and Gail Heffner with Daniel Heffner, Andrew Heffner, Morgan Stewart, and Elisabeth Heffner. 

The Heffners were in town on vacation, visiting son Daniel who is a grad student here in Ottawa.  Aware of the environmental impacts of their travel, they try to offset these when travelling by giving back in some way to the community they are visiting. 

They found out about the Fletcher Wildlife Garden (FWG) and the struggle to control Dog-strangling Vine.  DSV is a highly invasive species that thrives in sun or shade and in any type of soil.  It spreads rapidly, choking out other plants and even trees in the area.  It is pervasive throughout FWG, and volunteers have been busy trying to control the spread of seeds and stem the spread of DSV into areas that are not yet heavily invested.

Upon arrival, the Heffner family enthusiastically got suited up with work gloves and dug right in, so to speak!  


In the couple of hours they gave to FWG, they were able to make a real difference.  First, working along a busy pathway and then moving on to an open area where they were able to free up several trees and shrubs that had been covered with DSV.   We all watched the dark clouds coming in and they gamely kept right on working up until the clouds broke.  Torrents of rain soon came down while we took shelter in the Interpretation Centre.

At FWG, no matter how much hard work is to be done, there is always time to see some wildlife and learn from the many knowledgeable nature lovers around.   Among other things, the Heffners were able to observe a young Green Heron at the Amphibian Pond (photo below) and a crab spider that has been hanging out on a common milkweed plant.   

The Heffners set a wonderful example of environmental stewardship and community involvement.  What a great way to give back when visiting friends and family out of town.  Many thanks to the Heffners and safe travels to you all!

 

Friday, July 22

Barry scythed an area very close to the Interpretation Centre (IC), between the Bill Holland trail and the driveway to the IC and just opposite the leaf mulch compound. Several reasons for this choice: it was another hot day and this area is shaded; but it was also a chance to get a feel for what's it's like working among the sumac. This is a possible task for the Michigan family that will be working with us on Tuesday next. Barry and Barbara Riley cleared DSV from the compound fence, the second time this has been done. The first time was June 10, and the DSV was not quite as tall but already developing pods. Barry also did some clearing around the trees just to the west on the north edge of the lawn. The slope there had been mowed a couple of weeks ago by AAFC, and already DSV shoots are sprouting up.

After break, Barry went to clear up the last mounds of DSV cut on Sunday; these were spread out among the sumac there. A row of cedars separates this north east section of the Butterfly Meadow from the area immediately to the east bounded by the north-south trail running on the west side of the Ash Woods. Barry cut DSV at the edges of these trees, ripping vines down from their branches. This area is heavy with DSV and is a good candidate for more work. It and related areas to the east, along with the southern portion of the Old Field, are the last large, heavily infested areas.

The map has been updated to show this work.

WEEK 12, July 19

Volunteers: Barry, Hedrik, Geoff, Glenda, Marg

We've decided to consolidate the areas we've been working on and then evaluate where we are at this mid-point for the season. A check on Monday afternoon revealed some places that needed work in order to complete several areas. These included spots along the trails running south from the bridge and the southeast section of the field south of the pool. Three of us scythed away while Glenda and Marg clipped and pulled around the trees. Here are some before / after pictures showing the progress.

BEFORE

AFTER

A small tree is hidden by DSV - can you find it?

The small tree once freed from DSV

The upshot was that we completed these areas, with the exception of a small corner near the barn where an active bird nest is huddled low to the ground in one of the spruces. Glenda found the nest last week and immediately stopped working near it. The nest had eggs then and perhaps four altricial chicks this week.

The trails run from the bridge, forming a triangle as they reach Green Heron road. The eastern trail curves into and through the butterfly meadow, the western between the main field south of the pond and the western side of the meadow. Much of this triangle was cut over this week, so now we have contiguous cutting all along Green Heron road, with the exception of the small area at the west end where the nest was found.

Barry has completed the map, sketching in and confirming the various trails and marking areas cut and areas remaining to be worked on. The main areas remaining are all along the Bill Holland trail from the IC to the bridge, the southern part of the Old Field and the area north of the Ash Woods, sometimes referred to as the dogwood meadow. Both these latter areas are heavily infested and it may be that the best we can do is clear around the many trees and shrubs being overtaken by DSV. A final area is the west end of the New Woods, up to Prince of Wales and along the driveway into FWG, including the area between the Hedgerow and the ball diamond. This area is one that may have to be left alone, unfortunately.

Seed pods are changing colour and seeds are ripening up. We will need to monitor cut plants; hopefully we will not have to gather up these mounds of material scattered throughout the areas where we've been working.

More DSV Funnies

 

 

Two guys go golfing. One’s semi-pro and the other is his pretty lame beginner student. Both of them manage to knock a ball into a big fat patch of DSV. Which one has the best chance of hitting it out?

The beginner, cause he sure can slice!

I don't know about Barry's golfing abilities, but in a field of DSV, he is a master-slicer!

DSV Facts

Did you know......

Dog-strangling Vine (DSV) spreads by seed.  And, indeed, it most certainly does spread!

DSV can be pollinated by insects, but it has the handy little skill of self-pollinating.   It turns out, this is the best of both worlds.  When insects are around to pollinate, this increases the genetic diversity of the plants, making the DSV stronger and more resilient as a group.  Alternatively, when there are no insects to help it pollinate... well, no worries, it will do the job itself.  This plant will not be denied!

Several studies have shown that DSV plants growing in the shade produce fewer seed pods and fewer seeds per pod than DSV plants growing in sunny conditions.   This is something we have noticed at Fletcher Wildlife Garden also.   DSV has a habit of finding sun though.  In a wooded area, it will grow up through tree branches and find the sun that way.  Oh, and in ideal partial-sun conditions, around 30,000 seeds per square metre can be produced.

Polyembryony has been found to be "strongly evident" in DSV.   This means that the seed has two shots for success.  If the seed does not germinate because of weather conditions, it gets to try again with its spare embryo.  Did I mention that this plant will not be denied!

Most DSV seeds fall close to the parent plant, but some research has shown seeds spreading as far as 60 metres from the parent plant.  Not surprisingly, it is a pretty flexible germinator, too.  It tends to germinate after stratification (over-wintering), but some DSV seeds germinate just fine in the same season before winter even hits, and others can germinate two or three (perhaps more?) years later. 

Source:  Dog-Strangling Vine: A review of distribution, ecology and control of this invasive exotic plant


DSV at Fletcher Wildlife Garden

So what does it all mean?  Well, of course, it means that we do not expect to eradicate this plant.  We are however doing what we can to contain its spread.  The Tuesday Invasive Species Group (TISG) is focused on cutting down DSV plants before viable seeds are produced and cutting and removing plants with viable seeds.  It's a big job, but remarkably satisfying!

Visitors to FWG are reminded to brush off their clothing and their dogs' coats before leaving the site, to prevent bringing seeds home with them.

WEEK 11, July 12

Today's volunteers were Barry, Glenda, Geoff, Hedrik, Jean, Christine, and Marg.

Jean and her new billhook joined us today, her way of thanking FWG for the loan of the Weed Pullers. The billhook is like a cross between a machete and a sickle and is an effective tool for cutting off DSV in tight places, such as under trees and where single plants or small clumps grow in the midst of desirable plants. Jean cheerfully put in 4 hours at this and it's unfortunate she is not available for other Tuesday groups.

The rest of us continued with where we had left off last week, with Christine and Marg working in the Old Field (above), along Green Heron road, and the remaining four in the field south of the pond. Glenda had a large spot at the southeast corner, where the trail from the bridge meets GH road. She spent the morning pulling and clipping DSV from under the trees there (see before and after pictures below), rescuing some small trees that weren't even visible until released from their cover of DSV. She also continues to keep a photo record of our activities.

Barry, Geoff and Hedrik worked the scythes, finishing the clearing of this field back to the banks of trees that hide GH road. Geoff worked as well on the north side of GH road, eventually linking up with us in the main field. Geoff noted the difference in regrowth of DSV in areas where he had pulled DSV and Barry had scythed several weeks ago. This is the where the Purple Finch had nested in a spruce by the road, Geoff having worked on the west side and Barry on the east side of this spruce. Geoff's area showed much more growth of desired plants while Barry's was regrowing pretty much DSV. We wondered whether the difference was owing to difference in techniques and / or difference in original state. We also wondered if the difference would carry into next year.

We tried an earlier start this week, with five of us turning up at 8:00 and two coming later at 9:00. It was a hot and very humid day, hence the early start. We could also finish by 11:00 although several worked after that. The past few weeks have shown good progress, the group has hit its stride and we are pleased with how things are going. Many challenging days ahead, of course, but we continue to work toward minimizing seed production. Attention will be paid in the coming weeks to the progress of seeds, as bagging will be required once seeds are starting to distribute.

July 12 Interim Update

We had a great morning going after DSV.  Check back later for more details.  In the meantime, here is a taste of what we did.  We turned this

into this

And, this tree (yes, there is a tree in there)

into this 

And, this

Is now this

If you haven't voted today for our Butterfly Meadow, be sure to VOTE here.

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.

Friday, July 8

Barry set off toward the pond but couldn't resist scything around the clump of trees growing by the old retaining wall across from where the Bill Holland trail comes out at the main FWG sign near the parking lot. He then spent about 1.5 hours continuing to scythe the areas south of the pond, i.e., the remaining patch on the south slope down to the pond and much of the remaining DSV in the west side of the field south of the pond trail. The plants are very tall, heavy with pods and twining around each other, pulling themselves over with the weight, making scything very difficult. Some still remains to clear. The good news is that several milkweed plants were braving it out in the midst of this heavy infestation. Before and after photos were taken. After break, Barry and Sandy had a good discussion on how things are going with the TISG. She has some good ideas in regard to databasing our photographs.

WEEK 8, June 21

The first day of summer was welcomed in by Barry, Glenda, Hedrik, Geoff, Marg and Isabelle at the Tuesday Invasive Species Group at FWG.



We decided this week to work closer together as a group and to take a scheduled break half way through rather than going off in small groups of 2 or 3 and taking breaks on our own, as we have done in the past couple of weeks. Our main work this week continued in the New Woods and the area south to Green Heron Road, as per our decision last week to revisit areas that had been cut before. Regrowth of DSV - as indeed its regular growth - has been phenomenal this year and it is denser than ever. Pods are already forming on plants in the best conditions (lots of sun) and these now have to become a priority.

Our specific activities included recutting with scythes and continuing to clip under and around trees. Geoff returned to the section he had been cutting three weeks ago.

Before Geoff's Work

By break time, Geoff had it all trimmed back again.

Hedrik and Barry worked in the New Woods proper, cutting as far as the western-most tarp. Hedrik has done a good job of clearing the Hedgerow path on the south side, from about the middle of the New Woods to its entrance at the ball diamond.

Glenda, Marg and Isabelle continued clipping and clearing around trees.

 

In addition to cutting and clipping, we rediscovered the virtues of pulling DSV up by the roots. This is arguably more effective than cutting in terms of setting back individual plants. In fact, the question was raised later and there has been some discussion of the relative merits of these techniques. While pulling is a good thing to do and will be the main technique in use during our upcoming work bees, scything remains the method of choice for cutting large areas quickly. It is simply not possible to pull large areas but it is very effective for plants growing singly and in small groups, especially where other plants we want to keep are competing against the DSV.

In between all the hard work, we also managed to squeeze in a relaxing break complete with getting to know a weevil that stopped by to hang out on Hedrik's arm and some bird watching along the way.