UPDATE: Saturday Weed Wrangle canceled
As of Wednesday morning, the Weed Wrangle event set for Saturday, March 28 has been canceled.
Putnam County Remove Invasive Plants (PC RIP) is still planning a Weed Wrangle for April.
Volunteers of all ages are invited to help remove invasive plants on the Tzouanakis Intermediate School campus on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to noon. Rain date is Sunday from 3-5 p.m.
The Weed Wrangle will be an open-air event where small teams spread out around the nature trail north of Tzouanakis to take out invaders. The Weed Wrangle is an opportunity for all ages to get into nature, learn how to identify plants and make a difference by slaying aliens.
No experience is required. Professionals will be on hand to guide and educate. Volunteers are advised to wear work gloves, long pants and closed-toe shoes and invited to bring tools such as loppers, clippers and saws.
According to Vanessa Fox, president of Putnam County Remove Invasive Plants (PC-RIP), the focus of the March Weed Wrangle will be wintercreeper, Asian bush honeysuckle and burning bush. These plants do not play well with others. They outcompete native plants and disrupt natural communities. They deprive birds, insects and mammals of their natural host plants and sources of food and shelter.
“Although we are deeply concerned about the COVID-19 virus, we decided not to cancel this event because we believe it be will very low risk for participants,” Fox said. “We will be outdoors and well separated. Besides, everyone will be wearing gloves.”
Saturday’s Weed Wrangle will be PC-RIP’s second assault on invasive plants. On the fourth Saturday of February, the group removed dozens of Asian honeysuckle bushes on the campus of Ivy Tech. Another Weed Wrangle is set for April 25.
With questions, contact Fox at 765-490-7198 or PutnamcountyRIP@gmail.com. Information is also available from Sara Campfield at Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District, 653-5716.