Left: ANC 3F02 Commissioner Sue Guzman and Weed Warrior John Burwell examine an Italian arum. (GCF photo)
Right: The vegetation on the Brandywine Street side often blocks the sidewalk. (September 2014 photo)
ANC 3F and Forest Hills Park advocacy group Good Clean Fun (GCF) have been working to bring several maintenance issues to the District’s attention. The problem areas include the wooded area between the park’s baseball field and Brandywine Street.
ANC 3F02 commissioner Sue Guzman and Good Clean Fun co-founder Tracy Zorpette met recently with John Burwell, a National Park Service-certified “Weed Warrior,” at the 3100 block of Brandywine Street, NW. They discovered a hillside invaded with non-native plants. According to DOEE’s Invasive Plant Education and Outreach website, these plants can displace native plants and animals, reduce native species biodiversity, and destroy wildlife habitat. They can also alter water, light and soil conditions.
One of the worst offenders at the site: bush honeysuckle, which outcompetes and blocks the sun from desirable native woodland species including wildflowers and young trees. These invasive shrubs have an impact on migrating birds, since the fruit these plants bear lack the high-fat and nutrient rich content that most native plants provide for local birds. Bush honeysuckle also deposits chemicals in the soil that inhibit desirable plants.
Multiflora rose, another pesky plant, is also prominent along this stretch of Brandywine. It is a prolific seed producer and can actually root from its stems when they touch the ground. It forms dense thickets, crowding out native vegetation and taking over habitats.
Burwell explained how to identify these planta non grata: Bush honeysuckle has hollow stems. The thorns grow backward on a multiflora rose. Other nonnative invasives blanketing the area include Italian arum, winter creeper, English ivy, oriental bittersweet vine, leatherleaf mahonia, and wineberry.
On the plus side, Burwell identified a native grape vine and pokeweed, which, despite its weedy nickname, is a welcome plant whose berries supply vitamin C to birds. He also spotted some native locust and sycamore trees, which provide shade to slow the growth of nonnatives and also secure the soil to the slope.
However, many of these trees appeared to be unhealthy and in peril. Burwell explained that the presence of extensive vines puts extra weight on the tree limbs, and the addition of wind, rain, or snow can cause branches to break from the tree.
Next steps include working with city agencies to call attention to this neglected stretch of woodland, which is DPR property and therefore the responsibility of the Department of General Services to maintain.
If you’d like to keep up with events and clean-ups (the next one is scheduled for March 8th at 9:30 a.m.) in Forest Hills Park, join the Good Clean Fun Google Group by emailing [email protected]. And to learn more about this Van Ness Main Street initiative, visit vannessmainstreet.org.
Forest Hills Connection is also a program of Van Ness Main Street. We maintain our editorial independence.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
None Such says
Battling invasive plants is ultimately a no win battle. As long these plants can be bought at nurseries, and homeowners plant them, the seeds will spread. I’m not sure calling on the DC government to do weeding will solve anything Or is a particularly good use of tax money when there are so many other pressing needs. If volunteers want to weed, then go for it. Good exercise.
Tracy Zorpette says
DGS informed GCF that the sidewalk overgrowth would be trimmed by its in-house team on a regular basis going forward. Tree inspection and pruning are the responsibility of DDOT, while identifying “invasive exotic” trees that may be removed falls to DOEE.