Invasive Plant Management & Removal
Together, we're bringing back the natural beauty that makes Rappahannock special—one plant at a time.
We've embarked on an ambitious 5-year mission to free our park from invasive plants and restore the native landscape that local wildlife depends on. This isn't just gardening—it's bringing back the heart and soul of our natural ecosystem!
The Unwelcome Guests We're Tackling
Those pretty purple flowers? That fast-growing vine? Many were brought here decades ago without knowing they'd become bullies in our ecosystem. Now we're rolling up our sleeves to remove:
- Garlic mustard that smothers native wildflowers
- English ivy that strangles our majestic trees
- Japanese honeysuckle that creates impenetrable thickets
- Multi-flora roses with thorns that crowd out native shrubs
- Ailanthus ("Tree of Heaven") that's anything but heavenly for local species
- Burning bush, stilt grass, and other invaders that don't play nice with our natives
The Transformation Happening Now
Where once stood a tangle of non-natives or ash trees lost to the Emerald Ash Borer, we're creating a new story. Thanks to the Friends of Rappahannock, hundreds of native trees now grow in these spaces—the beginning of a forest that belongs here.
Every invasive plant removed makes room for something that's supposed to be here—the plants that local birds, butterflies, and wildlife evolved with and depend on.
Join Our Green Team!
Whether you can tell a dandelion from a daffodil or can't identify a single plant, we welcome your helping hands! Our dedicated volunteers come from all walks of life but share one thing: the satisfaction of seeing native plants return to spaces we've cleared together.
Come for the conservation, stay for the camaraderie. There's something magical about working alongside neighbors to heal our shared outdoor home.