2015 work in progress...

Why Remove?

Many of our favorite plants originated in Asia and Europe. Most of them are fine to grow in your yard. Invasive plants that we are attempting to control are plants that are sort of like a cancer. They do not have natural predators since they forgot to bring them with them from their native country. These plants tend to tolerate a wide range of light and soil conditions, thus out competing our natural vegetation. Since they do not provide food for wildlife, frequently change the soil chemistry so native plants suffer and take up lots of space, they are a drain on the natural ecosystem.

We have been actively controlling invasive plants on the greenbelt since 1999. If we had not been doing this our greenbelt would look completely different. We would by now have nothing but glossy buckthorn and garlic mustard interspersed with a few suffering oaks on the Oakland side. All of our trillium would be gone by now. It would have been difficult to see the lake since the glossy buckthorn would have been growing so close together. The fen would have been seriously degraded. Our bird, reptile and amphibian populations would have suffered.

Some folks argue that let nature runs its course. The problem is these plants were brought over by people. Eventually, as in a few thousand years, evolution would work its magic and a new balance would be achieved. During our lifetimes our precious greenbelt would have still been green, and would have still help protect the lake, but it would not function as a healthy ecosystem.

So, we fight back.

Our problem plants

garlic mustard

asian bittersweet

glossy buckthorn

non-native cattails

norway maples

dog stranglevine

autumn olive

There is a great deal of information about these plants on the web. A good place to start is to download the free guide from Michigan Natural Features Inventory.

Free Field Guide from MNFI


How can you help?

1. Keep an eye on your yard. Our invasive get to the greenbelt on your dog's fur, move in from your yard and are flown in by birds. Clean off your shoes after hiking somewhere else.

Our current new problem, dog stranglevine, came from a yard adjacent to the greenbelt that had brought in straw.

2. Volunteer to hand pull garlic mustard in the spring. Watch the egroup for notices of when that is happening. After you learn what it is, you can work at it on your free time and make a huge difference.

3. Plant only plants that behave themselves. Avoid planting ivy if you live adjacent to the greenbelt.

4. Appreciate our wonderful spring wildflowers and fabulous diversity.