Volunteer to Fight Invasive Plants in the Carleton Arboretum

Carleton College invites members of the community to participate in a volunteer work event to remove invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle in the College’s Cowling Arboretum on Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will meet on the paved trail at the bridge over Spring Creek, just off the intersection of Oak and Second Streets at 9 a.m. Participation is greatly appreciated.

Buckthorn and honeysuckle are among the most problematic of the invasive plants found in “the Arb.” Both plants can outcompete and replace more desirable, native plants. After the invasive plants are removed, native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs will be planted in their place.

It is recommended that volunteers bring drinking water and work gloves, and that they dress appropriately for the weather. If the weather is too extreme to safely permit outdoor work, the event will be canceled. A cancellation notice will be posted by 2 p.m. the day before at http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/arb/visitor_information/volunteer/.

The 800 acres that comprise the Cowling Arboretum are classified as a State Game Refuge, and hosts a variety of restoration projects. The Arb contains many diverse habitats, and is home to several rare species of turtles, the endangered tall-grass prairie Henslow Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii), and two threatened plant species.

Carleton’s Cowling Arboretum is open to the public year-round, with a 15-mile trail system that is groomed in the winter for both skate and classic skiing. The Arb has been ranked by Runner’s Magazine as the best place to run in Minnesota and one of the top ten in the nation. The Cannon River is also a popular fishing spot. For the best two years, the arboretum has won the Northfield Entertainment Guides’ readers’ poll as the best destination for biking and hiking in Northfield.

This event is sponsored by the Cowling Arboretum. For further information, contact Arboretum Director Nancy Braker at (507) 222-4184.