If memory serves, I think it was 2008 when I hired a crew to spray all the Scotch broom in the woodlands. It was so thick back then you couldn’t see someone standing 20 feet away! And it was basically a solid stand from the parking lot to the water tanks, and beyond! My son and I continued to spray for a few years, as the plants were still too big and numerous to pull. Once we got the plants reduced in numbers, and had most of the large adults killed, a group of volunteers began hand-pulling the plants. Year after year, we were buoyed and encouraged by the reduction in plants, as the sprouts seemed smaller, and less numerous.

We can’t afford to become complacent, though. Invasive plants (or animals for that matter) gain a foothold by being tenacious and adaptive. If there’s a void, opening, or opportunity in an ecosystem, invasive plants and/or animals will take advantage, and gain occupancy.

Toward that end, our fight continues with a Scotch Broom Pull on Saturday, February 29, from 10:00am to noon. We’ll meet in the upper Britt parking lot, and discuss our strategy. Our work will be within ¼ mile of the parking lot, and we’ll walk through the woods in relatively close proximity, so it’s more of a social gathering than anything else. The plants we’ll be finding are all small now, and if we receive soil-dampening rains, they should be easy to extract. This is not a difficult 2 hours of work, but depending on the weather, it could be damp, so come prepared. Calf-high gum boots, rain pants and coats, and gloves should be worn. A large group of volunteers may even shorten our effort. Please join us!

Bob Budesa, The Weed Wrangler