A huge thank you to all of the students and other volunteers who came by Glen Echo on a rainy Saturday at the Green Columbus (coordinated by Danielle Allison) work site to clean out some invasive plants. CERP (Columbus Ecological Restoration Program), from the City of Columbus, was also on hand to chip honeysuckle shrubs and cut down the larger invasives. They were a big help in making the day much more productive, as were the Columbus State Community College students who were there to lend a hand.
Pete would especially like to thank Mike Graziano and Jude Carstensen for coming in on Friday to mark the plants that needed to be removed. It made it so much easier for everyone on Saturday to know what should be dug up. Also, a big shout out to Niagara Water, who generously gave bottled water for all the volunteers. Working as hard as they did, it was greatly appreciated! And a special thanks to Robert Seed of Keep Columbus Beautiful, who provided us with all the tools we needed.
Some of the plants that were removed were multi-flora rose, burning bush, honeysuckle and creeping euyonymus, plants that really can cause havoc to the delicate ecosystem.
It’s been several years since we’ve started this clean-up project, and I really notice the difference in Glen Echo. There are jack-in-the-pulpits, blood root, trout lilly, spotted water leaf and other natives that have really started to thrive. It’s pretty amazing to see.
Until next time!
Lower Olentangy Urban Arboretum 