Event Details (U.S. National Park Service)

Fee:

Free.

Location: LAT/LONG: 40.291240, -96.835702

Arrive at Education Center (8523 West State Highway 4, Beatrice, NE 68310). After a short briefing, volunteers will walk to the Woodland Loop Trail to begin garlic mustard removal.

Repeating Event

Days:

Every week on Saturday

Dates:

April 20, 2024 to June 01, 2024

Time:

1:00 PM

Duration:

3 hours

Type of Event

Volunteer Event

Arrive at Education Center at 1 pm. After a short briefing, volunteers will walk to the Woodland Loop Trail and begin garlic mustard removal. Event ends at 4pm. Garlic mustard removal will take place every Saturday starting on April 20, 2024, and continuing through June 1, 2024, except for May 25, 2024 (Fiddle Festival).

Description

Earth Day is coming up and we have a new volunteer opportunity to showcase!

Show this planet how much you care! Join Homestead National Historical Park as we kick off a recurring invasive species removal project. This will run from April 20 to June 1, 2024, every Saturday from 1-4 p.m. We will be focused on eradicating garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). This will take place around the Woodland Loop Trail. Training on how to properly identify and remove garlic mustard will be provided. We recommend that you bring water or a reusable bottle.

Garlic mustard is an invasive plant that originated from Europe and Asia. It was brought over to North America for various purposes but is not used today. It is a biennial plant, which means that there are two growth stages of this species over the course of two years. They are shaped similarly to kidney beans in the first year and transform to look like triangular hearts in the second year. One of the main reasons this plant can thrive and stay populated is due to its rapid seed dispersal in the second year. During the second year of growth, a flower head is present at the top of the plant. This is where four-petaled clusters of white flowers appear. Around June and July, they transition into these brown stems, known as siliques, and contain the seeds of garlic mustard. This is when the seed shatter stage takes place. We are invested in this invasive removal opportunity now and before June 1st to reduce the risk of the seeds being released on a largescale.

Garlic mustard is a lead factor threatening the biodiversity of various ecosystems. For example, it has negative impacts on our woodland unit, specifically the mesic bur oak forest. This plant is very persistent in outcompeting native plants that need sunlight and moisture.

Check out more details about this opportunity at volunteer.gov under Homestead NHP!