about projects: invasive plant removal

Restoration continues this Fal at the Nature Garden with the following scheduled dates:

Saturday, September 13, 2008                Call Naomi Thompson, n.thompson@stonemountainpark.org, 770.498.5619

Monday, September 15, 2008                  Call Susan Meyers, smmeyers@bellsouth.net, 404.388.8228

Tuesday, October 14, 2008                        Call Susan Meyers, smmeyers@bellsouth.net, 404.388.8228

Saturday, October 18, 2008                       Call Naomi Thompson, n.thompson@stonemountainpark.org, 770.498.5619

Wednesday, November 12, 2008           Call Alina Ruiz, a.ruiz@stonemountainpark.org, 770.498.5629

Saturday, November 22, 2008                Call Brian McKnight, b.mcknight@stonemountainpark.org, 770.498.5620

Workdays occur from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.  Our focus will be the removal of invasives (mostly honeysuckle and blackberry) so dress appropriately, bring a water bottle and gloves.  Small tools will be available.

For directions to the Park, visit http://www.stonemountainpark.com/maps-directions/driving-directions.aspx. Once you have entered the Park, the Nature Garden is located about 1 mile past the West Gate and Confederate Hall.  Parking is available across the street.

*Please call or email the appropriate workday leader to let them know what day you will be attending.

Invasive plants are plants so capable of successful survival that their growth and reproduction can be a detriment to the environment. Invasive plants may grow rapidly, produce abundant and/or long lived seeds, germinate at high rates, or mature rapidly. 

Invasive plants in Stone Mountain Park choke out native plant growth, prevent tree growth, change the forest ecosystem, or damage the unique rock outcrop ecosystem on the mountain.  

The following invasive plants are found throughout the park: Privet, Kudzu, English Ivy, Chinese Wisteria, Princess tree, Nandina, Golden Bamboo, Mimosa, Chinese Tallow, Honeysuckle, Tree of Heaven, Autumn Olive, Periwinkle, and Mahonia. Please go to www.gaeppc.org/list.cfm for pictures of and to learn more about these plants. 

Stone Mountain Memorial Association is committed to removing invasive plants found throughout the park.

You can help: We need help removing invasive plants in sensitive areas at the Nature Garden.  If you are interested we will soon set more work dates for Fall 2008, please call 770-498-5658 to join us. 

Initial removals by SMMA involve Kudzu, Privet and Golden Bamboo.  In Fall 2005, Kudzu was sprayed at select locations (near Evergreen and the dam).  Approximately 200 acres have been removed. Privet along the southeast side of the mountain was sprayed in 2006 and 2007.  Approximately 25% has been removed, but there are still acres and acres where work will be done. Golden Bamboo was removed near the Studdard Picnic area in Spring 2007.  Spring 2008 involved removal of more Privet, as well as Princess Tree and Mimosa, and  respraying of the original Golden Bamboo area.

Tree of Heaven was removed in October 2007 along the road near Evergreen Conference Center.

Our work to restore and rehabilitate the Nature Garden area also involves removing invasives.  The education staff has begun removal of Nandina, Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus) and Mahonia found growing throughout the Nature Garden. English Ivy covering the forest floor and trees was removed in Winter 2007.  During Fall 2007, high school students helped remove areas invaded by Periwinkle (Vinca) and Honeysuckle.  High school students continued this work in Spring 2008 to remove honeysuckle, vinca, and  nonnative boxwoods and holly.

Invasives can rarely be completely removed through a single treatment.  In the Nature Garden, we will constantly monitor these initial areas to determine how well the initial treatment worked and what native plants are beginning to grow.