Virginia Invasive Plant Removal Day 2010 went well! Thank you to everyone who contributed time and effort towards this important cause.

Invasive plant removal events were held in 27 locations. Most were in Northern Virginia, but there also were events in central Virginia, Richmond, the Northern Neck, and southwest Virginia. More than 300 volunteers, including Master Naturalists, scouting and other youth groups, neighborhood associations, and other community volunteers, came to assist with the efforts. Together, they contributed more than 750 hours of service and removed more than 75 bags of invasive herbaceous plants, plus many acres of woody plants such as autumn olive. Their works sites covered more than 50 acres, and their service and additional in-kind donations are valued at more than $15,000. The site leaders reported that the volunteers increased their ability to recognize invasive plants and their knowledge about the negative impacts that invasive plants have in natural ecosystems. Several leaders also reported that they were able to educate park users and passers-by about invasive species issues.

English Ivy English Ivy (Hedera helix) English Ivy is a very common invasive plant throughout the entire state. It is also an evergreen plant that can be easily seen and identified all year long. So it is a great plant to work on any time of the year. Since the plant does not mature and produce flowers or berries until it grows vertically, eradication efforts should focus on removing the vines from all vertical surfaces first.
The Banshee Reeks Wee Battalion The Banshee Reeks Weed Battalion continued their long-term effort to manage invasive plants at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in Loudoun County. On IPR Day, they removed 1 acre of autumn olive, Japanese honeysuckle, and multiflora rose.
Alexandria Volunteers remove Garlic Mustard Volunteers removed 16 bags of garlic mustard from Holmes Run Park in Alexandria.