One of the best gardening experiences is being able to use your skills and plants to better the environment. This past week I took the opportunity to volunteer with the Disney VolunteEARS, alongside The Bay Foundation, to help restore the UCLA Stone Creek Canyon.
Contributing three hours on a Saturday resulted in turning a creek-side hill covered with invasive plant life into a progressing area for birds and other wild animals. We spent the morning and early part of the afternoon in the first phase of the process: digging up the harmful plants.
While this step may seem as simple as pulling weeds, we had to endure a much more intricate process that involved large roots.
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| [Photo by: Danielle Scharer] Some roots, such as above, were as wide as 10 inches and required special tools to break through. |
Although we weren't able to completely remove every harmful plant in one day, we cleared out an impressive, sizable amount.
After contributing to the Stone Creek Canyon, it's important to note that not every plant is beneficially to its surroundings. In fact, some do more harm than good. Just because it's green or possess flowers does not mean it's meant for your garden.
Below are a few frequently spotted invasive plants to look out for:
English Ivy
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| [Photo: landscaping.about.com] English Ivy grows vigorously covering all plants. |
Sweet Autumn Clematis
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| [Photo: landscaping.about.com] Sweet Autumn Clematis is on the top list due to its pleasant view but fast growing nature. |
Oriental Bittersweet Vines
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| [Photo: landscaping.about.com] These vines engulf vegetation and actually kill other plants. |
Being able to bring life to the ground and eventually the wildlife is something we can all take the time to do. A few hours of the day can add years to the environment.
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| More information on Disney VoluntEARS found here. |
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