Date of volunteer work: 02/28/2016.
Site Name: Johnson Creek Park.
Number of hours worked: 2.
Species removed: blackberry and clematis.
Estimated percent cover before removal20-50%.
Approximate square feet of invasives removed150 / 50.
Cleared blackberry (mostly) mixed with clematis off of what turned out to be a fairly large rose bush, then cleared blackberry/clematis off several much smaller roses and sapling trees (couldn’t tell species) in the same area. Pulling up some blackberry that is newly rooted made it really obvious that cutting blackberry vines at the end of the growing season is really important, because it doesn’t take long for those growing tips to create pretty sturdy new root systems (I pulled up a bunch – in other places – over the winter while the new roots were small and easy to get out).
Other observations: The patch of wild cucumber near the parking area is up already, with quite a bit of growth. Several trees and shrubs are starting to flower, or even a bit past. The salmon berry is just starting to flower; only saw one bush with open blossoms on it.
Birds seen and/or heard: mallards, geese, kingfisher, Bewick’s wren, hummingbird, crows, song sparrow
