The Newton Conservators Invasives Team tackles garlic mustard, buckthorn, black swallow-wort, bittersweet, japanese knotweed, and other problems in many of Newton’s open spaces. Come join us! The schedule for this month is listed below (other dates are listed in separate “events” by month). Help keep these invaders out! Wear long pants tucked into socks, closed shoes, and garden gloves. Trash bags will be provided; the City will dispose properly as trash, not as yard waste. Volunteers should complete this online Release Form or they can do it on site.
In August we work on woody plants like buckthorn, multiflora rose, and porcelain berry. We also tackle Black swallow-wort, a monarch butterfly killer, which is in its glory now, with flowers and pods in production – we’ll dig them out and where necessary just pull pods off to avoid further spread.
August 1 Saturday – we won’t have an invasives session because at 10am is a Bioblitz at Sawmill Brook Conservation Area. See the separate event listing or click here to register for the Bioblitz.
Aug 2 Sunday 8:30am – 11. Webster Woods – Webster Park porcelainberry and woody shrubs, and we will tackle various invasions around the entrances to Webster Woods itself. Meet at the Warren St entrance to Webster Woods.
Aug 6 Thursday 8:30-11 – Heartbreak Hill Park. at the Waban Hill Reservoir. Meet at the park entrance near 28 Manet Rd in Chestnut Hill.
Aug 8 Saturday 8:30-11 – Kesseler Conservation Area. Meet at the fence opening that is across Lagrange St from the northernmost intersection with Bryon Rd. Park on Bryon Rd near 2A Bryon Rd.
Aug 13 Thursday 8:30 – 11 – Hemlock Gorge. Meet at the Ellis St parking lot at the corner Rte 9 and Ellis St.
Aug 15 Saturday 8:30 – 11 – Riverside/Pony Truss Trail. Meet at the Recreation Rd parking area on the Weston Sid of the Pony Truss Trail.
Aug 16 Sunday 8:30-11 – Upper Falls Greenway. Meet at the kiosk behind the Trader Joe’s on Needham St.
Aug 22 Saturday 8:30-11. Hammond Woods. Meet at the kiosk at the entrance to Hammond Woods in the back of The Street parking lot.
Aug 23 Sunday 8:30 – 11 – Crystal Lake pocket park. Meet at the pocket park on Centre St just outside Newton Center at the MBTA bridge. The closest house address is 1429 Centre St. Park on Paul St, Norwood Ave, or Locksley Rd.
Aug 27 Thursday 8:30 – 11 – Cold Spring Park. Meet at the kiosk at the left back end of the parking lot .
Aug 29 Saturday 8:30 – 11. Hemlock Gorge. Meet at the parking lot of the intersection of Ellis St and Rte 9
Aug 30 Sunday 8:30 – 11. Sawmill Brook Conservation Area. Meet at the Vine St parking lot across from 5 Hollywood Drive.
Steady rain will cancel the session. If in doubt, contact Katherine Howard at 617 721 2571. New to our invasives sessions? See our FAQs and complete Volunteer Release form.