Penrapture and I skipped our Friday night sewing session to attend “Invasives Plants Primer for Homeowners and Volunteers” sponsored by The Trustees of Reservations .
We were originally supposed to meet at a farm with a meditation labyrinth which was going to be open for the solstice. Due to some problem we had to meet at a different location in Monson, Mass., and I have to admit if I had known that before we set out I probably would not have attended. The combination of a meditation labyrinth on the solstice, a potentially picturesque farm setting AND learning about invasives was enough for me to give up my sewing night.
Regardless, our new hosts were gracious enough to let us pile into their charming house. It was located in the middle of nowhere, down this long narrow road, part pavement, part dirt and all nice. We were greeted warmly and headed down to the basement for a PowerPoint presentation on invasive species. Most of the people attending were Trustees volunteers, along with a specialist and Josh Knox who ran the program.
I learned a lot about the habits of these plants that I didn’t know before and I learned that earthworms are considered invasive. After the primer we went upstairs for pizza from Holyoke, brownies and cupcakes that our hostess made and small talk with the rest of the attendees. Ironically one of the dreaded “invasives” was growing right outside the window while we were eating.
After pizza we went outside to check out the invasives in the yard. There were a lot of them. When we got to the road Josh noticed that these dead trees were covered in a variety of invasive species. Even in this small area it seems like such a huge job to eradicate all of them.
We were originally supposed to meet at a farm with a meditation labyrinth which was going to be open for the solstice. Due to some problem we had to meet at a different location in Monson, Mass., and I have to admit if I had known that before we set out I probably would not have attended. The combination of a meditation labyrinth on the solstice, a potentially picturesque farm setting AND learning about invasives was enough for me to give up my sewing night.
Regardless, our new hosts were gracious enough to let us pile into their charming house. It was located in the middle of nowhere, down this long narrow road, part pavement, part dirt and all nice. We were greeted warmly and headed down to the basement for a PowerPoint presentation on invasive species. Most of the people attending were Trustees volunteers, along with a specialist and Josh Knox who ran the program.
I learned a lot about the habits of these plants that I didn’t know before and I learned that earthworms are considered invasive. After the primer we went upstairs for pizza from Holyoke, brownies and cupcakes that our hostess made and small talk with the rest of the attendees. Ironically one of the dreaded “invasives” was growing right outside the window while we were eating.
After pizza we went outside to check out the invasives in the yard. There were a lot of them. When we got to the road Josh noticed that these dead trees were covered in a variety of invasive species. Even in this small area it seems like such a huge job to eradicate all of them.
Back in the yard our host told us the sad story of this beautiful doomed oak. Apparently when the former owners put in the sewer system they cut most of the roots of this tree. It has been slowly declining since then, despite the best efforts of the current owner. He says he is going to have to cut it down soon. It’s a shame as it is a lovely tree. This picture doesn't do it justice.
On our way home we stopped to take a picture of this dilapidated barn. Actually, we drove by, talked about what a cool barn it was, turned around, went back up the road, turned around again, THEN stopped and took the picture. Some things are not as easy as they often sound.
No, luckily nothing's ever easy. And the most difficult picture to get on this adventure turned out, I think, to be the best.
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