(D. Maurer, LCFPD)
It’s that time of year again! Time to defend our title as winners of the United States Forest Service Garlic Mustard Challenge 2012. Come on out and help remove garlic mustard from natural areas. Garlic mustard displaces and outshades native plants, which in turn causes the loss of habitat and forage for native animals and insects. By removing garlic mustard before it sets seed we begin to exhaust the garlic mustard seed bank. It may take a few years before the population has noticeably been reduced which is why we are encouraging hosts of events to return the same sites for several years. More information about the 2013 Garlic Mustard Challenge can be found here
Garlic Mustard Challenge Events 2013
Saturday, April 20th, 8:30AM-Noon: Earth Day/NIU Cares Day, Prairie Oaks Forest Preserve, 7535 Cherry Valley Rd. Kingston, IL. A bus load of students from NIU will be out at 8:30 and the public is welcome to help. Please contact Al Roloff with any questions 815-751-5529.
Saturday, April 27th, 9AM-11AM: Iron Oaks Environmental Learning Center, Garlic Mustard Pull 2013, 2453 Vollmer Road, Olympia Fields, IL. Please pre-register by calling 708-481-2330
Saturday, May 4th, 9AM-Noon:Lake Forest Open Lands, Public Work Day, Mellody Farm Nature, 350 N. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL. Maps and directions can also be found at www.LFOLA.org. Volunteers can expect to help with controlling invasive plant species such as Garlic Mustard, as well as planting native forbs and trees. Please dress for the weather. Open Lands will supply work glove, tools and materials needed for the day. Contact: Michael Hahn, Volunteer Coordinator mhahn@lfola.org or 847-707-9878.
Saturday, May 11th, 9AM-Noon: Lake Forest Open Lands, Chicago River Day, Skokie River Nature Preserve, Lake Forest, IL. Access to Skokie River Nature Preserve is at the west end of Laurel Avenue, west of Green Bay Road. Park at the end of Laurel and walk on the bike path across the bridge to the wood-chipped trail on the right. Maps and directions can also be found at www.LFOLA.org. Volunteers will be helping control Garlic Mustard, cleaning up garbage and planting native plants. Please make sure to dress for the weather and be prepared to work in muddy conditions. Open Lands will supply work gloves, tools , safety glasses, and materials needed during the workday. This nature preserve does NOT have restroom facilities. Contact: Michael Hahn, Volunteer Coordinator mhahn@lfola.org or 847-707-9878
Saturday, May 11th, 9AM-Noon: Village of Glenview, 21st Annual Chicago River Day, Glenview/Techny Basin. You’re invited to join the Village of Glenview Natural Resources Commission for the 21st annual Chicago River Day. Help to beautify the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River with a trash pick-up, garlic mustard pull, and wetland planting. Meet at Kohl’s parking lot off Willow Road. FREE t-shirts for all volunteers! Work gloves, tools, and trash bags will be provided. Everyone Welcome! Site Captain – Henrietta Saunders, 847-729-2329.
Saturday, May 18th, 9AM-Noon: Lake Forest Open Lands Association, Annual Garlic Mustard Pull, McCormick Ravine. The entrance to McCormick Ravine is located on the east side of Sheridan Rd. just north of Old Elm and adjacent to the Army Facility. Maps and directions can also be found at www.LFOLA.org Volunteers will be helping to pull as many individual Garlic Mustard plants as possible! Please make sure to dress for the weather and be prepared to work in muddy conditions. Open land will supply work gloves, tools and materials needed during the workday. This nature preserve does NOT have restroom facilities. Contact: Michael Hahn, Volunteer Coordinator mhahn@lfola.org or 847-707-9878
Monday, May 20th, 1-3PM: FermiLab Natural Areas, Batavia, IL. For driving directions please see http://www.fnal.gov/pub/visiting/hours/index.html. Meet in Lederman Science Center parking lot at 1 PM. We will be removing the invasive herb, garlic mustard from several high quality remnant oak, maple, basswood woodlands on the Fermilab site. Please dress for the weather. Wear boots and bring a pair of work gloves if possible. Heavy rain, strong winds, or hazardous weather will result in canceled event. Please contact fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com with any questions.
Wednesday, May 29th, 1-3PM: FermiLab Natural Areas, Batavia, IL. For driving directions please see http://www.fnal.gov/pub/visiting/hours/index.html. Meet in Lederman Science Center parking lot at 1 PM. We will be removing the invasive herb, garlic mustard from several high quality remnant oak, maple, basswood woodlands on the Fermilab site. Please dress for the weather. Wear boots and bring a pair of work gloves if possible. Heavy rain, strong winds, or hazardous weather will result in canceled event. Please contact fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com with any questions.
Monday, June 3rd, 1-3PM: FermiLab Natural Areas, Batavia, IL. For driving directions please see http://www.fnal.gov/pub/visiting/hours/index.html. Meet in Lederman Science Center parking lot at 1 PM. We will be removing the invasive herb, garlic mustard from several high quality remnant oak, maple, basswood woodlands on the Fermilab site. Please dress for the weather. Wear boots and bring a pair of work gloves if possible. Heavy rain, strong winds, or hazardous weather will result in canceled event. Please contact fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com with any questions.
Monday, June 10th, 1-3PM: FermiLab Natural Areas, Batavia, IL. For driving directions please see http://www.fnal.gov/pub/visiting/hours/index.html. Meet in Lederman Science Center parking lot at 1 PM. We will be removing the invasive herb, garlic mustard from several high quality remnant oak, maple, basswood woodlands on the Fermilab site. Please dress for the weather. Wear boots and bring a pair of work gloves if possible. Heavy rain, strong winds, or hazardous weather will result in canceled event. Please contact fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com with any questions.
Garlic Mustard Facts, Garlic Mustard species pages
Some Garlic Mustard Recipes:
The List of Champion Garlic Mustard Pullers from 2012-
1. Chicago Botanic Garden
2. Lake County Forest Preserve District
3. Lake Forest Open Lands Association
4. Morton Arboretum
5. Village of Lincolnshire
