Volunteers have been freeing trees and other native Linnean Park plants from smothering invasive species, and you can join them

Volunteers Don Looney, Jimina Lema and David Conrad remove fountain grass near Linnean Park’s west entrance.

John Burwell, an invasive species-fighting champion of the Linnean and Broad Branch stream restoration areas, was at it again last Saturday with a group 10 volunteers, some from neighborhoods close by and some as far away as Buzzard Point.

They worked in Linnean Park to clear trees of smothering vines, and the trail of invasive fountain grass. Five of the volunteers, including Burwell, were trained as “weed warriors” by the National Park Service.

He describes the work accomplished the afternoon of November 6th:

We removed invasive non-native plants including fountain grass – first cutting the seed heads and bagging to limit further seed dispersal, then digging the plant and bagging separately. A patch of Japanese knotweed was pulled and piled. Two native trees were discovered within. Now that the large stalks are out it will be easier to maintain the area with repeated cutting of regrowth and it’s now accessible for possible planting of native trees or bushes.

Porcelain berry vines were removed from native trees and bushes and scattered or piled. Native trees uncovered from vines were protected from buck rubbing with fencing. Parts of the trail where rolling grade dips and water bars were installed during renovation efforts in July, were adjusted, refined and maintained. Together we worked a combined 31 hours from the upper portion (Broad Branch Terrace) of the Park to the footbridge.

There is still plenty of invasive-clearing work to be done. He and Kathy Pauli, a trained weed warrior from the Forest Hills neighborhood, will continue to work on their own. And there may be another group event in December to tackle more of the porcelain berry and fountain grass. If you are interested in joining John or Kathy, email John Burwell at pinehurstprojectdc@gmail.com.