Tag Archives: invasive plants

forest restoration

Wonderful Work in the Woods

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On the morning of Friday, June 10, a capable crew of Inman Park neighbors, together with some Trees Atlanta recruits, rallied in support of Springvale Park.

The goal was to remove invasive Japanese chaff flower and to thin out some of the saplings that are threatening to turn Springvale Park into a jungle.

Thanks go to Sandi and Kevin Curry, Karen Heim, Alan Hing, Nancy and Bob Morrison, Sam Prausnitz-Weinbaum, Cindy Weinbaum, Peipei Xiang, and Jim Abbot, as well as Trees Atlanta staffer Louie Lewis and his volunteers Myrtle Lewin, Jasen Johns, Grace, Nicole, and Christina.

Care, forest restoration, Miscellaneous

Let’s Take Care of Some Trees!

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On TWO upcoming weekdays, Inman Park Tree Watch and Trees Atlanta will team up to show tender loving care to some trees, young and old, which are currently beset by invasive vines, ground covers, and shrubs.

It’s called forest restoration. We need your help to restore our Inman Park forest.

On Wednesday, May 25, from 9:00 to noon, we will be working along the serpentine path through the section of Freedom Park lying between Euclid and Austin. The closest intersection to the site is Austin Avenue and Sinclair Avenue. The signup for the May 25 project is here: https://sforce.co/3Nr6Rij

On Friday, June 10, from 9:00 to noon, join us in the natural area of Springvale Park, south of Euclid, to remove invasive plants. The closest intersection is Waverly Way and Euclid Avenue. The signup for the June 10 project is here: https://bit.ly/springvaleJune10

These projects are suitable for younger children when accompanied by an adult. Bring a pair of work gloves if you have them, otherwise we’ll furnish them to you. Also a water bottle. The best clothing is long pants and closed-toe shoes or boots.

We hope to see you there! There’s a job for everyone, and your help is needed even if you cannot stay the entire time. Use the contact form on this site if you have questions.

Care

TELL US WHERE TO WORK

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From now until at least May 2022, Inman Park volunteers will gather on the third Saturday of each month to

  • prune branches that are growing into the sidewalk or street,
  • remove vines strangling trees in our parks and greenspaces,
  • cut out or pull up invasive plants that crowd out our native species.

You can help by telling us where you have noticed that a sidewalk is obstructed or a park space is being overtaken by vines.

Leave a comment on this post with your suggestions, and thanks for the help!

Care, Pruning

We are small but mighty!

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Jaime Kirsche and Jim Abbot were the inaugural volunteers at the first-ever Whack, Yak, and Snack, which will take place every third Saturday of the month, meeting on the porch of 946 Waverly Way at 9:00 a.m.

Jaime and I got a ton done on Saturday, September 18. We worked along the sidewalk that lies between Springvale Park and Edgewood Avenue. The goal was to improve sight lines into the park, remove invasive trees, and clear the sidewalk of low-hanging limbs.

Mission accomplished.

Jim in the jungle
Jim (left) and Jaime (right) with their pile

forest restoration

Springvale Park Restoration

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Inman Park Tree Watch has been working with Trees Atlanta and the IPNA Springvale Park Committee to restore the natural half of Springvale Park, lying south of Euclid Avenue, to a healthy condition.

The project is being funded by the Inman Park Neighborhood Association, Springvale Park Committee, and the Trolley Barn.

By summer 2018, invasive trees, shrubs, and vines had become rampant throughout the forest:

The plan to remove these invasive plants calls for five to six volunteer projects in addition to high density professional herbicide treatment of the ground layer.

The first workday was held in September 2018. Volunteers pulled up Japanese chaff flower, a perennial which tends to form dense monocultures capable of shading and outcompeting native plant species.

In October, November, and December, students in a Forest Stewardship workshop being conducted by Trees Atlanta did work in the park, including cutting English ivy from some of the towering  hardwoods in Springvale.

On January 26, 2019, we attacked woody invasives including Carolina cherry laurel, leatherleaf mahonia, thorny olive, bush honeysuckle, Chinese privet, and southern magnolia:

Meanwhile, preparations are being made for the eradication of English ivy and creeping liriope or monkey grass from the forest floor:

So, in sum, steady progress is being made toward our goal of a healthy, beautiful, and more usable Springvale Park:

Already appearing from underneath the choking layers of invasive plants are gems like this white oak seedling:

Once invasive plants are removed and a plan is in place to prevent their return, we will be planting new shrubs and trees in the park. Interestingly, we are fortunate to have, for consulting, the 1903 plans formulated by the Olmsted Brothers firm, at the request of Joel Hurt:

The next volunteer workday will take place on Saturday, February 16, 9:00 AM to noon.

Care, Pruning

Ken’s War on Snarl

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Tree Watch member Ken Taber likes to call the overgrown, neglected corners of Inman Park — with their tangles of wisteria, privet, leatherleaf mahonia, thorny olive, tree of heaven, and other invasive plants — “snarls.” They look something like this:

And for physical activity, Ken likes nothing better than charging his battery-powered chainsaw and strapping on the holster of his handsaw for an afternoon of reducing Inman Park’s snarl problem.