Stinky Bob Obliterated!

A volunteer crew of nine attacked an infestation of the invasive plant, herb robert, today along the trail between sign posts 14 and 16. Looks like the bleeding hearts will be fantastic in the same area. They are on verge of bursting into bloom.

Herb Robert

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)

General Description: Herb Robert is both a winter and a spring annual. It is a low growing plant.

Leaves:
* deeply dissected
* light green in color
* in late fall, foliage turns red. Also turn red with sufficient light.
* when crushed has a pungent odor

Flowers:
* pink
* five petals

Stems:
* fork
* brittle at the joints


Photo: www.kingcounty.gov

Herb Robert is a Class B invasive weed and poses a tremendous threat to forest understories and to plant biodiversity in forests of western Washington.
Because it was garden plant there have likely been numerous independent introductions.
This tough little plant adapts and thrives in a variety of exposures, moisture levels and soils (even germinating in rock crevices). It can be found it just about everywhere, from urban environments to undisturbed wilderness areas.
Because it is so adaptive, it out-competes native flora until it carpets the forest floor.

Propagated by seed, the plant is able to eject its seed as far as 15 to 20 feet. The seeds also have sticky threads, that help them catch a ride on leaves, animals and even passing ants and snails.
Germination is quick and the rosettes overwinter, flowering in late Spring and to late Summer.

Pulling the plant before bloom is the best weed control strategy. It has little root structure and can be pulled easily, but because the stems are brittle, the plant must be grasped at the base.
The removed plants must be bagged as they are pulled, to contain seed and the possibility of continued fruiting.
Pulling the plant also improves the "seedbed" for remaining dormant Herb Robert seeds and therefore the site must be revisited and monitored.

This geranium can look like the delicate and highly desirable native bleeding heart! Please do not pull weeds until the identification is absolute.

There is a scheduled Herb Robert clinic and work party to remove Herb Robert, from the Hansville Greenway, on Sunday March 7 starting at 11/am.
The group will be meeting at the southernmost place on NE Spruce drive (closest to post 15) and will work between posts 14-16.
Cover your arms and hands for good protection from nettles and bring a plastic bag to contain weeds.
Since this area contains both Herb Robert and Bleeding heart, this outing will be a great hands-on educational opportunity as well as an invaluable service to the health and vitality our own Greenway.

If you would like to participate, please contact Jo Roberts (litlfut@comcast.net) for details and directions.

A new "sculpture" on a tree at Lower Hawk's Pond platform.

Walked from the Ponderosa entrance to LHP, Quiet Place, and Otter Meadow and back.

Things are looking pretty lush.

Hawk's Hole Creek Bridge

The new bridge over Hawk's Hole Creek is completed and the steps on the approaches are done. Just a little "landscaping" left to do. We need to cover up the excavated clay with some of the remaining erosion control hay and forest duff.

On Trailheads and Maps

I was wondering if there is a list of trailheads to the Greenway trails. I, in various places, have some GPS coordinates, addresses and/or general descriptions of about 7 trailheads. If anyone were interested, and if someone hasn't already done it, I could produce such a list. Another idea would be to produce a map that showed a detailed graphic of each of the trailheads. Also, although the Greenway proper may not be interested, I have spent some time mapping the area between the greenway and Little Boston Road. I know several people who hike these trails and if anyone reading this would like a beta copy of my map let me know and I can send a JPEG copy. (It might require a little cleaning up before I can scan and send it, but I will if anyone is interested.)

Trail grooming

Hi crew,

We have a Volkssport Walk coming through on the 20th that likely will include a lot of people. Would you please walk your section before the 13th and make sure things are clear? If for some reason you need assistance let me know before that weekend so I can arrange something.

Gary, would you let Rex know?

Thanks all.

Doug

Holly Pull - Five of us made it out for the holly pull.  We beat the rain.  We made a lot of progress and left just a little for next time.  Its a fun way to get off the trail and see the really wild parts of the Greenway.