The morning of Thursday, February 25th brought forth warm temperatures and sunshine. Chapter Ikes Mike Lane, Claudia and Ray Powell teamed up to dig up a few mountain laurels from the chapter park dam and to re-transplant them near the front gate.
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
While transplanting the mountain laurel, Mike named five distinct species of vines that he observed in one big clump as we dodged prickly briars. He pointed out that the invasive plants that he jerked out of the ground with his pickup were a species called Chinese privet that was brought over originally as a poor man’s hedge, in lieu of boxwood, and that now spreads like crazy everywhere, with resulting shade that discourages native species from thriving.
“This is a project just now started, that we should continue to pursue, to remove all invasive species from the chapter park property”, commented Mike.
