Great Garlic Mustard Challenge

Due to limited staff resources, a formal Great Garlic Mustard Challenge is not occurring in 2010. Organizers of garlic mustard pulls are encourage to provide those details to Marcia Bollinger and they can be included on this website.

Garlic Mustard Pulls in Hickory Hill Park

What’s true for the U.S. Census is true for Hickory Hill Park. EVERY HAND COUNTS! In 2009, FHHP contributed more than 1700 hours of volunteer service in the park. This year our goal is to put in more than 2000 hours. Help us break our record by lending us a hand for an hour or two this spring!

Learn to identify and control garlic mustard and help us prevent its spread into our major wildflower areas. Join us at one of the following volunteer garlic mustard pull events!

• Saturday, April 17
  9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m.
  Meet at South Entrance-Bloomington Street
• Sunday, April 18
  1 p.m.-3:00 pm
  Heritage Tree work day and Garlic Mustard pull
  Meet at the North Entrance off Conklin Lane/North Dodge Street
• Saturday, April 24
  9:30-11:30 am and 1:00-3:00 p.m.
  Garlic Mustard pull
  Meet at South Entrance-Bloomington Street
• Saturday, May 1
  9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m.
  Meet at South Entrance-Bloomington Street

Please wear long pants and long sleeves and close-toed shoes to volunteer events. Gloves are highly recommended.

Poison ivy is prolific in the park. Though it is not mature this early in the spring we advise volunteer to learn to identify poison ivy and to watch where they step or reach.

Bathrooms and water are available at the north entrance, but there are no bathrooms or water at the south entrance. Please plan accordingly.

Galic Mustard Pull around the Licoln Elementary Grounds

• Sunday, April 18
  1pm - 2:30pm
  River Street parking lot

All are welcome to join us at a Garlic Mustard Pull on and around the Lincoln Elementary grounds on Sunday, April 18, from 1-2:30pm. Meet in the River Street parking lot behind Lincoln. Work gloves and long pants are recommended but no experience is necessary.

Garlic Mustard Pull in Lee Street Ravine

Help pull garlic mustard for an hour or two this spring!This invasive plant has spread into our wooded ravines and destroyed many wildflowers. Annual vigorous efforts of many people are needed to keep it somewhat under control and hopefully rejuvenate some of the native plants.

• Saturday, May 1
  9:30-11:30 a.m.
  Meet at the Hoppins at 426 Lee Street (338-3858)

Wear long sleeves and pants and close-toed shoes. It could be muddy and the banks are steep. Gloves are highly recommended.

Poison ivy is present in the ravine. Though it is not mature this early in the spring volunteers need to watch where they step or reach.

Heavy plastic bags, water, lemonade, coffee and treats will be available.

Due to time constraints the City is unable to continue to coordinate a citywide pull this year as in the past three years, but they are posting information on their website of independent arrangements such as those of Friends of Hickory Hill Park.

Garlic Mustard Pulls in Johnson County

You are invited to participate in an Earth Day event Saturday, April 18 workday. April 25 will be the rain date. The primary activity will be pulling invasive weeds (garlic mustard) at Bruce Gardner’s woods.

The property is an 80 acre pristine woodland that is not currently owned or managed by the Johnson County Heritage Trust, but may be in the future. It is located about 4 miles northeast of Iowa City. This is a woodland that has been essentially undisturbed since at least 1850 but has several areas of garlic mustard infestation.

We will plan to meet at 9:00 Sunday, April 18th at the woodlands. If you need transportation, please contact Mark Madsen and we will try to arrange a car pool.

Directions to Bruce Gardner’s Woods:

Go north on Hwy 1 to Rapid Creek Rd (~ 1 mile from US 80 intersection). Go East (right) for about 2 miles until you intersect with County Rd X16. Turn left onto County Rd X16. Pull off the road and park near the intersection with Dingleberry Rd. Bruce will meet us there and guide us to the areas where we will work.

Please dress appropriately for working in a potentially muddy area. We expect that ticks will be active this time of year, so wear long pants. Do NOT wear shorts. Bring gloves if you have them, but we will have extra pairs available. Bags will be furnished along with drinking water and some snacks.

Any questions, please visit our website at www.jcht.org or contact Tammy at 319-338-7030 or Mark Madsen at the email address given above. Rain date will be Sunday, April 25th at 9:00 AM.