On January 10, I had the pleasure of joining fellow CANPS members Brian Early and Allan Pringle and their co-worker Michael at the Burden Botanical Gardens. The weather was nice: cool, clear. I showed up a few minutes early to check out the trails and was surprised at what I saw. I had been several years prior for a Project Learning Tree workshop and remembered there being something of a forest there, though the canopy was heavily disturbed. What stood there now was a bit of an open, park-like environment. There were trees but the forest floor was relatively flat and covered with rye grass and weeds. My first reaction was, I have to admit, disappointment. I could have sworn that they were mowing in there. I thought to myself, 'Oh god, yet another forested area has succumb to the ceaseless mowing and tinkering of man'.
I was fortunate enough to later talk with Jeff Kuehny, who has been leading this project for several years now. He explained to me that they had a terrible privet infestation following Gustav and they had been getting rid of that and mulching the ground over to keep it from resprouting. An incredible undertaking. It is definitely the most ambitious ecological restoration project in Baton Rouge that I have seen yet. Each year, they take advantage of Arbor Day enthusiasm to stick as many trees in the ground as possible. Native trees, of course. This year some 400 trees were slated to be planted. On the list were Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanicus), Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Bald Cypress (Taxodium disctichum), Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Pecan (Carya illinoiensis), White Oak (Quercus alba), Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michuaxii), Swamp Tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) and Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica).
Our goal for the day was to take GPS coordinates at each stake so that visitors who plant trees can come back to their trees years later to watch it grow. Brian and I spent a few hours talking CANPS 2015, botany and restoration while we worked. I jotted down GPS locations to each planting location while Brian wrote numbers on the flagging on each stake where a tree would later be planted.
Next week visitors would pick their tree, match the tree to the color-coded flagging somewhere out in the field, plant the tree and then tear off one of the numbers so that they could retrieve info on their tree, such as the species, growth habits and coordinates.
When arbor day came, I showed up early, enjoyed the free coffee and bumped into several folks that I had seen at previous CANPS meetings. You couldn't have asked for more perfect weather. Crisp and gently warming. Clear skies. I filled out my name tag and made sure to write Capital Area Native Plant Society. It caught a few folks attention and by the end of the day I was able to add several names to our mailing list. Master Gardeners and Burden Horticultural Society members, Ready Hands and others. Kindred spirit, for sure. We all delight in the idea of nurturing life, of cultivation and getting our hands dirty.
People came in waves all day, mostly young families with lots of children, but occasionally older couples and loners too. The kids brought so much excitement and energy to the experience. Like planting a tree was the coolest thing that anyone could be doing. I remember one boy couldn't contain himself and so, without waiting for instruction or considering which tree he wanted, ran up, grabbed a random tree and began running toward the open distance. I looked over to his mom, who was laughing with me. We grabbed a shovel and started chasing after.
I loved every second of it. The weather. The volunteers. The visitors. Getting my hands in native soil and doing good work. The children especially made my day. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a weekend. Could you?
By Matthew Herron
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