We're getting towards the end of spring and all of the projects that go with it. We've spent months managing some of Saint Paul 's nicest sites, like Crosby Farm Park and the Mississippi River bluffs, and continuing restoration efforts at sites like the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom and Hamline Avenue. Natural resource restoration and management efforts are based on the life cycle of plants. Accordingly, we've spent the spring managing invasive species before they begin to seed out, and planting native species in their place so they can become established over the summer.
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| Corps member, Katie, torching first year garlin mustard at Crosby Farm Park |
After planting thousands of trees and managing many acres of invasive species, we spent Wednesday doing a final sweep for second year garlic mustard plants and torching first year plants to protect a lot of native species at Crosby Farm Park
On Thursday, we worked with our youth crews to spread mulch over the Mounds Park overlook, where native trees and shrubs were recently planted by volunteer groups. The mulch helps keep soil moist and prevents invasive species from sprouting and out-competing the new natives. It was a rainy day, but the site looked great when we finished. We finished the day out by spiking burdock and clipping seed heads at Mounds Park
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| Youth Outdoors crews spreading mulch at Mounds overlook |
