By Mitch Leachman, Executive Director St. Louis Audubon Society
A big one! Fortunately, most of the honeysuckle was much smaller.
On a cool, overcast March 14th, 20 volunteers met at the Creve Coeur Lakehouse at Creve Coeur Park for the first official workday and milestone of the Mallard Lake Prairie Project. The group included Wild Ones and St. Louis Audubon volunteers, Missouri Master Naturalists and staff from St. Louis County Parks and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, all key partners in the project. A number of students from DeSmet Jesuit and Parkway North High Schools also came out. Many thanks to everyone who participated!
This first phase is focused on the removal of the non-native invasive bush honeysuckle from the west and north sides of Mallard Lake where native savanna and woodland will be restored starting this fall. The March 14th crew cleared approximately 1.5 acres of honeysuckle and callery pear, another nasty plant that is spreading rapidly across the park and around the region, especially along our highways.
Our last honeysuckle workday of the season is THIS Saturday, April 11. Hope you can join us!
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- Before: The dense honeysuckle growth habit is clearly visible
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- After: A part of the crew stand with one of the areas afterward
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- Katie Drees, Brian Hall, Howard Warth and Diana Miller
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- STL County Parks chipper crew was left with plenty of work
