Louisa

Love YOUR County Parks: Lop a Little, Learn a lot!

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Opportunity knocks! Open the door and Louisa County Conservation will introduce you to the joy of removing invasive species. Join us for a morning of appreciating native trees along the Iowa River and removing invasive species like autumn olive. We will also spend some time picking up litter. A pizza lunch and souvenir water bottle will be provided. Practice your lopping skills. Learn how to identify the good, the bad, and the ugly. Invasive species like autumn olive, bush honeysuckle and garlic mustard are crowding out native plants in forests and prairies. Invasive species are too good at spreading and surviving, crowding out our native species. Why does it matter? Many beneficial insects like pollinators are plant eating insects. 90% of all plant eating insects are plant specialists. Monarch caterpillars are the perfect example. Plant specialists like Monarch caterpillars need plants that have been here a long time, not introduced or invasive species. The more native plants we have in our landscapes, the more food for beneficial insects, which in turn provides food for baby birds, fish, frogs, bats, foxes, and the list goes on!If you cannot make it to this event, another one is scheduled this year:September 24th join us in the prairie at the Wetland Interpretive Trail adjoining Langwood. We will harvest prairie seed and remove autumn olive and bush honeysuckle.All tools and safety equipment will be provided thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Louisa County. Enjoy a pizza lunch provided by Louisa County Soil and Water Conservation District. Other donors include N-Compass, Inc., Ansell Protective Products, and the Can Shed LLC.

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