Rocks, Mud, Roots...and Violets

Pull a bunch of weeds and invasive ivy and what's left behind is a berm of mud-filled rock. Three days of pleasant weather inspired a homeowner to remove the undesirable plants by the roots from around the KPVA retention pond. Among the haul were Asian bush honeysuckle, motherwort, garlic mustard, poison ivy, English Ivy, Guelder rose, birds-eye speedwell, multiflora rose, and dandelions.

Common motherwort and Amur honeysuckle around KPVA pond.

Clearing the scrub yielded piles of debris, but left barren landscaping in the interim. As stewards of the parcel, KPVillas has an opportunity to introduce native ground cover and plants that support diversity.

With weeds and invasive ivy removed, portions of the KPVA retention pond are nearly barren.

In February 2023, KPVillas neighbors walked the KPVA retention pond together and proposed removing invasive species as a first step and to seek professional input. Prioritizing invasive plant removal was a recommendation of an invasive species management plan prepared for KPVillas after an August 2023 site visit by a State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) specialist.

The recent April 2024 purge of nuisance plants was the fifth major round of pulling invasives and weeds, after:

• Feb 24, 2024, https://www.kpvillas.org/post/invasive-bushes-and-trees-removed

• Nov. 4, 2023, https://www.kpvillas.org/post/honeysuckle-suckers

• March 22, 2023, https://www.kpvillas.org/post/second-round-of-debris-removal

• March 3, 2023, https://www.kpvillas.org/post/invasive-removed-from-retention-pond

Additionally, on April 25, 2024, a neighbor cleared weeds, honeysuckle, and poison ivy from the circle of trees on empty Lot 15. On November 7, 2023, neighbors cleared invasive pear trees from the treeline along the southern KPVillas boundary with permission from the landowner.

Before and after weed pulling on empty Lot 15.

A positive discovery from the SICIM survey was confirmed during weed pulling, as violets emerged from under the invasive entanglement.

Violets emerge amidst invasives.

If you are interested in helping with the labor or just weighing in on the landscaping plan around the KPVA retention pond, please contact Chuck Bueter.

Meanwhile, a May 6, 2024, meeting of the South Bend chapter of Wild Ones at 5 PM at Pinhook Park will feature a presentation "Grasses, Carex and Groundcovers: Loved by pollinators, too!" with Beth Schelle of Indigo Gardens and Design. Together let's get some ideas and motivation.