More English Ivy Carpet
Almost all the green in this winter picture is an unnatural carpet of English Ivy. However, most of the ivy that had been on some of the trees has been killed. Green in winter might seem nice, but one of the effects of this ivy carpet is to keep native wildflowers from coming up and blooming in the spring. Our native wildlife can find less food. And, unfortunately, our non-native rats like ivy!
posted by Steve Young, IvyMan at 9:44 AM
1 Comments:
I live along Doanldson Run, on the north side. The north side all the way along as you walk down the trail towards the river is infested, from the top of the slope to the stream itself (this is on the river side of Military Rd.). But the south side (the slope that actually faces north is untouched). I am interested in native species replacements for the ivy--but I am also thinking that the natural state of the slope may be bare ground with a bit of moss here and there. I observe that this is the rule on the other side. And I also look at the results of an experiment I conducted on the north side of the stream--two years ago I cleared a 20'x10' area and left it clear. It is still clear, without further intervention,and nothing has come up there (I assume this means there were no dormant seeds of native species in the ground). All this may mean that the natural state is bare ground. The tree cover is tulip, and some beech, oak and hickory with a well developed canopy. The bare ground is not eroding--like the bare ground on the other side. I'd be interested in what you think. By the way, you forget garlic mustard, now flowering and getting more and more common. The thing is, you can take it out, bring it home and cook it as you would any green! See my posting on this for a recipe. kitbritton.blogspot.com.
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