Recent rainy weather has made it easy to pull garlic mustard (and almost anything else). I was out this morning for a combination of jogging and garlic mustard removal and noticed that the area between High and Cooke is a mix of good and bad. The area from Canyon past Lenappe to Cooke is pretty much free of garlic mustard. However, there are some pretty bad spots between Canyon and High, especially on the north side of the road.

Evil Garlic Mustard

What a wonderful morning to work in the ravine! Nice and cool, with freshly softened ground that made pulling out garlic mustard quite easy.

We had an amazing turn-out as well (35 volunteers!), from our usual crew of neighbors and school partners, as well as volunteers through the Earth Day 2010 (http://update2010.org) and our site sponsor, Malcolm Pirnie. As a reminder, there is an Earth Day celebration in Franklin Park on Thursday, April 22, 3-10pm.

We gathered 7 (30 gal) bags of trash, planted many native plants and removed weeds in the raingarden, planted 95 native trees in the ravine, and pulled out 70 (!) bags of garlic mustard.

There is still much more garlic mustard to be removed, so it you feel inspired on a walk, please take some time to remove some of this aggressive plant. Our mentor, Greg Schneider, pointed out that with only flowers on the plant at this point, if the stem is broken between the flower and the roots, the plants will not go to seed and can just be composted in the ravine or the side of the road.

Thanks for all you do! We are all very blessed to live in such a beautiful area.

–Derek

Visit the Adena Brook Community Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adena-Brook-Community/118291114855082?ref=mf group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39705564716&v=wall&ref=search or search “Adena Brook Community” in Facebook.

Just a reminder that our first “Second Saturday” cleanup will be this weekend Saturday 4/17, to coincide with the City’s Earth Day volunteer initiative. We’ll be picking up litter,  pulling garlic mustard, and planting trees from 9-11.

Sign in and supplies will be at Overbrook & High; Overbrook & Canyon; Overbrook & Yaronia; Overbrook & Indianola.

This is a great opportunity to get out and meet your neighbors while improving the community.  We look forward to seeing you.  Bring a friend.