Tasks accomplished today

 Cleared porcelainberry, clematis, other vines from bushes and from grassy spaces

 Removed several large saplings from the seawall next to the Paddlers' dock.  

 Cut back a bush honey suckle discovered in a pine along the fence.  A couple years old! How did that escape our notice. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Thankful for JoAnn, a real gardener!  She gets it - roots & all. 

Jim & I discovered a bush honeysuckle wrapped in the branches of a pine along the fence.  It's large - must have been hiding there a couple years.  We filled the wheelbarrow twice with the branches. 

The bioswale sign is looking old and

faded. 

Tasks for 2024:

 Remove Bush Honeysuckle sect 1

 How to manage the False Indigobush, sect 2&3

 Clear the stone walls

It's time to replace the bioswale sign.

Dig the phragmites, section 1

Julia cleared the short fence by the ramp and then tackled the vines on a Serviceberry shrub 

Tasks accomplished today

 Trimmed river birch branches to improve viewing of the CSO discharge warning lights

 Cleared Porcelainberry from the short fence by the flood gauge.

 Cleared vines from several bushes.

Carried branches from previous workday to the dumpster

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Annette cleared vines and lespedeza covering three Vibernums and two Red Twig Dog Woods 

Paul came in at the end (after a long paddle) to provide a boost of much needed energy! 

JoAnn removes Porcelainberry right down to it's roots.We have a professional on the team! 

Grant is such a welcomed sight on bioswale Sundays!  

As usual in October, the Tick Trefoil is bad -

Julia and Annette are literally covered with the tiny triangular seeds from this plant.  The seeds

can only be removed one by one by hand. 

A few members of Team Bioswale 

Annette, Paul, Grant, Julia, and Andy

Tasks for November:

   Clear around shrubs in sections

1, 4 & 5

 Remove Bush Honeysuckle sect 1

 Deadhead remaining Loosestrife

 Tackle brambles on stone wall, sect 2 & 3

Dig out the heavy grasses, front of the bioswale sign.

Bald Cypress and Switchgrass

Fall color - Bald Cypress

Bushes cleared of vines

Red Twig Dogwood (left) and Vibernum (right)

Wheelbarrow abuse?  Not sure - sometime towards the

end of summer the Wb was found with deep gashes in

one of the tires, and both are entirely flat.  The Wb is

essential for the volunteer work in the bioswale.  

False Indigobush is taking over in sections 2 and 3 (between the ramps).   

We can try to cut it back, but there may not be enough volunteer

energy to keep digging it out. 

Tasks accomplished today

 Cleared tree branches to improve viewing of the CSO discharge warning lights

 Cleared area west of Paddler's dock for mowing

 Cut back false indigobush east of Paddler's dock

 Cleared vines from a few bushes.

Carried branches from previous workday to dumpster

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Removing the last of the debris from a volunteer tree

that was blocking the view of the cso discharge lights

Bearded Beggarticks - a lovely native, new to the bioswale.

Results:  enlarged clear area by the Paddler's dock

Results:  Tree branches removed to improve viewing of the 

CSO discharge warning lights, from both the parking lot and the river. 

For Oct:  We need to clear the vines off the

fence here

For Oct: This Shadbush is covered with

clematis that needs to be pulled off

Tasks for October work session  

  Clear around shrubs in sections 1, 4 & 5

 Remove Bush Honeysuckle sect 1

 Deadhead remaining Loosestrife

 Tackle brambles on stone wall, sect 2 & 3

 Dig the big False Indigobush next to Paddlers' dock.

Clear the fence next to water level gauge

Dig out the heavy grasses in front of the bioswale sign.

Cut back the River Birch to improve CSO view.

Before:  Clematis, Loosestrife,  False Indigobush in section 1

 After:  Most of the invasive species have been removed, leaving mostly natives.

Tasks accomplished today

 Dug out phragmites, section 1 - hopefully done for 2023

 Cleared tons of vines, particularly from bald cypress

 Dead headed and cut back false indigobush

 Dug invasive loosestrife, sect 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stomping down the dumpster!

September: work on removing this False Indigobush, next to Paddler's dock

Tasks for July work session  

 Clear around shrubs in sections 1, 4 & 5

 Continue to tackle Bush Honeysuckle sect 1

 Deadhead remaining Loosestrife

 Tackle brambles on stone wall, sect 2 & 3

 Dig the big False Indigobush in Sec 4, next to Paddlers' dock.

 Continue clearing the rocks - esp saplings

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BEFORE: Heavy vines on the emergency

fence were preventing it from being opened.

AFTER: vines cleared

WARNING: there's a nest of yellow jackets in

the upper part of this post, O.

BEFORE:  Two River Birches 

on the edge of the water, section 1, were

covered in vines.  Amy started on this one

but stopped when Poison Ivy was found.

Amy and Candace cut and pulled 

ivy and Virginia Creeper off the

second birch.

AFTER:  Vines are gone and the tree

is nicely open O.  

 Aaron and Paul remove a stubborn Black

Locust that was too close to the River Birch.

So satisfying to muscle that root

out of the ground!   

Pretty Picture: Healthy, beautiful switch grass

and Bald Cypress, Section 4.

Removing Bush Honeysuckle stumps is a challenge:

Andy and Aaron pried and dug until this piece

relented (the rest of the root clump is circled, O right)

The rest of that massive Bush Honeysuckle

stump finally demolished.

Wheel barrows of

vegetation going to the

dumpster.

This River Birch is now clear

on one side.  The other side is

the place to start in August.

My Strava trace: Almost a mile and a half

walked during one bioswale work session

The Gonzaga Plus: The bioswale shed has become

the place to gather when the work is done,

to have a pastry and talk about rivers.

A dense jungle. Far as we know we didn't lose

anybody. Ruth & Paul bear the heat & humidity. 

JoAnne in the middle, laboriously digging up 

phragmites rhizomes. Grant & Chantel, with

clippers bared, battle onward.    

Tasks accomplished today

 Dug out bush honeysuckle, phragmites, section 1

 Cleared tons of vines, particularly from bald cypress

 Dead headed and cut back false indigobush

 Cleared off the magnolia, sect 1.

Dug invasive loosestrife, sect 1

 Cleared growth along edge of the tent, and at faucets

Carolie made so many wheelbarrow trips!

Tasks for July work session 

 Clear around shrubs in sections 1, 4 & 5

 Continue to tackle Bush Honeysuckle sect 1

 Continue to dig Phragmites, section 1

 Tackle brambles on stone wall, sect 2 & 3

 Dig the big False Indigobush in Sec 4, next to Paddlers' dock.

Larisa eventually conquered this bush honeysuckle

As once an enemy's heads were displayed on a spike, the conquered bush honeysuckle stumps can be seen; we were victorious.

Capital Juniors, moms and dads! 

BEFORE:  The area was covered in vines, and stumps where a couple trees had died.  We lost 2 Shadbush here.  

This crew knows how to go for the roots!

Tasks accomplished today

 Dug out yellow iris, section 5.

 Cleared vines, dead stumps, all vegetation, section 5,

next to Paddlers' dock

Removed tree growing on the seawall, but stump remains

  Dug up False Indigo bush,

section 1 next to the ramp, a massive clump in particular

Cleared some of the rocks, section 1.

Some serious wheelbarrowing took place!

They tackled that Elm tree without me even mentioning it.  Wow.

Removing invasive clematis vines and yellow iris

Eradicating Bush Honeysuckle down

to the roots!

Tippy appeared, of course!

AFTER!  Usually we don't do a clean sweep

of all vegetation, but that's what was called for in this area.  

The wheelbarrowing got a little goofy

Tasks for June work session 

 Clear around shrubs in sections 1, 4 & 5

 Seriously tackle Bush Honeysuckle with tree puller, section 1

 Dig Phragmites, section 1

 Tackle brambles on stone wall, sections 2 & 3

 Dig the big False Indigobush in Sec 4, next to Paddlers' dock.

 Native Yellow Tickseed (Coreopsis) looking beautiful, and a stalk of Larkspur.  

Planting lavender around the base of the

Bio-shed. It is hoped the lavender will deter

the groundhog from digging here.  

The ground was hard dry clay, so students

used a pick to break it up, then added sand

and soil conditioner before planting six

lavender plants, 

Tasks accomplished today

 Carried brush piles left from Earth Day to the dumpster,

along w scrap wood that was nearby

 Dug out yellow iris near the large pine. 

 Planted lavender plants around the shed to discourage the ground hog. 

 Dug wineberry upriver side of the Paddlers' dock

 Cleared vines from Magnolia, section 1

 Cleared massive vines off the fence behind the large tent

Cleared a 16' strip & put in Virginia Mallow seeds.

Cleared vines from the wall beside the large tent. 

Removed vines from bushes, section 5

Cleared some of the rocks, section 1.

 The VA Mallow is in the ground.  Amelia, in lavender, rows with Capital Jrs 5 times/wk.  The others asked her to bring them frequent reports on how the plot is doing. 

Lunch break

Tasks for May work session 

Clear around shrubs in sections 1, 4 & 5

 Search & destroy Lesser Celandine if it

can be identified

 Seriously tackle Bush Honeysuckle with tree puller, section 1

 Dig Phragmites, section 1

 Continue to remove wineberry sprouts

 Dig the False Indigobush in Sec 1, 2, 3 and 5

In the last 1.5 hour of work students put in a

major & amazing effort.  The length of this fence was

piled at least 2 ft high with vines.  Now - Gone. 

Hard to see a poor neglected Magnolia shrub

center of the image.  The shrub was covered 

and bent over with a load of vines.  Gone.  

Here the vine, etc were coming up 

over the edge of the wall along side

the big tent.   Now .. Gone!   

Tasks accomplished today

 Targeted removal of wineberry & sweet autumn clematis

 Removed Lesser Celandine in Section 4

 Put the new tool shed together

 Cleared weeds from the bike parking area

 Wanted to dig Phragmites, section 1, but tide is too high

Check that pine cones are picked up. Ask Cornelius

       to mow under the pine.

The cleaned up view from the west end. 

With this work we improve the area for both native species & for people.

Installing the new tool shed.

THANK YOU GONZAGA!

Step 1:  Laying out the dimensions with string and paint. 

Step 2. Gonzaga crew dug a

shallow pit following the dimensions.

Nice job Gonzaga!  It's just right.

Step 3. Building a frame in the pit and

tamping in a layer of sand. 

 Step 4.  Laying pavers

Ready!

Refreshing Bike Parking.  Volunteers moved all of the bike racks out, dug out all the weeds, and laid down new mulch. What an effort!

 If you park your bike here feel free to always pull up

weeds!  Its an all-volunteer affair.  

Bioswale beauty ..... 

 Blue Flag iris emerging

Bob and Diana Day's daffodils - a fond memory

Tasks for April work session 

Clear around shrubs in sections 1, 4 & 5

 Search & destroy Lesser Celandine if it can          be identified

 Seriously tackle Bush Honeysuckle

 Dig Phragmites, section 1

 Continue to remove wineberry sprouts

 Dig the False Indigobush in Sec 1, 2 and 3

The following tasks were accomplished:

 Removed many wineberry sprouts from sections 2, 3 & 4

 Trash picked up along the edge of the river

 Cleared brush & bush under big pine, west end. 

 Picked up & bag pine cones

 Helped make a level base for the new tool shed

 Removed vines on the fence and clear behind the big tent

 Broke up old shells and got them into the big dumpster

 Raked in sections 2,3 & 4

 Digging up Wineberry roots & all!  You need to dig deep to find all these roots.  

A major effort to clear vines and brush from behind the big tent.  Great job FRESHMEN!!

Just had to include this... The bioswale leader decided to measure the distance walked during a typical work session. 😲  Who knew!  

Preparing a base for the new tool shed - tamping

in sand to support new pavers

Laying 24 pavers to support the tool shed. 

Next week we'll build it.

 This old eight goes in the dumpster.

        Breaking boats - see a movie here.  

Tasks for March work session 

Continue to remove wineberry

Dig the False Indigobush in Sec 1, 2 and 3 

Clear the Magnolia, section 1

 Search & destroy Lesser Celandine

 Dig Phragmites, section 1

Check that pine cones are picked up