Cape ivy, etc.

The point of this blog is first and foremost for me to keep a narrative of the restoration efforts. As I write, things come to me upon reflection that I may not have thought about as I was pulling weeds. And vice-versa; some things come to me when I'm pulling weeds or in the field that I may not remember unless I write them down.

I started as Stewardship Specialist at Elkhorn Slough on September 3, 2008. I concentrate on invasive weed removal and revegetation by planting native plants.

December moisture and heat has brought up the weeds and they are growing like crazy. When I started, I begged for the rains to start so I could begin planting but I knew also what comes with the rain. I dreaded the onslaught of the invasives that were sure to come and now are here.

Some of the weeds I've been working on are below.

Cape Ivy - I've been going after regrowth on a 3 acre site that was sprayed May of this year. The spraying has proven very effective. We've hauled out 5 medium bags of resprouts that have popped up in isolated patches over the entire site. After who knows how many years, native seeds that have been lying in wait are germinating with the increased light. Stachys bullata, Artemisia douglasiana, and native Rubus vines that can really get a head start. Also lots of poison oak. I've got a perpetual case!

English Ivy - removing small patches here and there around the Reserve. It stays under the oak canopy mostly and is easy to remove by hand. Even thought the seeds can keep germinating the next few years, I feel like I can really get a handle on it.

Periwinkle - this plant occupies a large area (yet tbd) of oak understory that needs to be restored to diverse coast live oak understory. We've started a project to manually remove outlying patches and will replant as needed.

Thinking about restoration in the face of our changing climate and such adverse conditions; it is the action of restoration that is so powerful. It is the laying of hands on and in the earth that will make change. Involvement of people.