The October 14 work day at Heritage Park featured comfortable temperatures but plentiful mosquitoes.
In the upper gardens, volunteers weeded the slope and the woods between the Pavilion and the pond. Trash strewn around the parking lot and gardens was removed, and native plants were installed, including Georgia asters, monarda, whorled coreopsis, wild petunia, and native silk grass. Two pecan saplings and a dwarf wax myrtle were planted in the Nickajack Rd. parking strip, and 2 native black cherry saplings and one willow oak were planted in the woods behind the Pavilion. Several Joro spiders were killed between the pond and the Pavilion.
In the creekside area, volunteers cut and painted Asian wisteria and removed large and small Chinese privets. Trash was collected, including items washed up by the creek and dropped from the boardwalk. A deflated red Mylar balloon is stuck out of reach in a tree by the creek. Volunteers also cleared invasives from about 10 yards of the bank that leads down to the creek plain, including Marianna maidenhair fern, knotweed (Persicaria), Japanese lady fern (Deparia petersenii, first appearance here), and autumn fern. This area was then planted with natives, including 10 Christmas ferns, 2 Southern lady ferns, and 2 broad beech ferns. Areas were also cleared around existing native plants, including rushes, Christmas ferns, and wingstem. Natives were also planted in the creekside plain, including 2 pipevines, 2 chestnut oak saplings, 2 pokeweeds, and 1 sweetgum sapling. Finally, a section of rotted flooring on the bridge spanning the creek was identified and will be reported to the county.
It was noted that many of the natives previously planted on the slope have survived despite heavy infestation of invasives. However, many of the natives planted along the creek were destroyed by the flooding. One Itea survived on the creekside, as did the pawpaws, eastern red cedars, Styrax grandifolius, green ash, and sunflowers.
Many asters are blooming on the slope and in the powerline cut. One lone ironweed was blooming beside the boardwalk where it appears defoliant was applied a month ago. Swamp sunflowers are blooming in the powerline cut for the first time. Also, as non-native plants have been removed from the creekside area, some native plants are returning, including snakeroot, ebony spleenwort, Christmas fern, and wingstem.
Plans for November 11 work day: Continue weeding the slope, woodland garden, and creekside areas. Add more native plants to the new fern bank. Follow up with county on the rotten boards on the bridge if not yet fixed.