Wanted: Baby Pandas. Reward: Lots of Bamboo

Progress Report from the field for 04-04-11 to 04-07-11

The COWP Native Plant team began the week at the notorious Cowpens bamboo patch, where they spent two days cutting and treating the highly invasive bamboo. Stacy and Tyler worked the chain saw while everyone else had their hands full removing the cut bamboo and stacking it in neat piles. Eventually, these piles will be burnt via prescribed fire. While working in the bamboo the team felt that if given approval, baby pandas would need to be enlisted to help remove the plants (there is plenty of bamboo for several panda families). Unfortunately, the majority of the 18 acre bamboo patch remains standing but the team was able to clear away ½ and acre of dense bamboo stands.

Some quality time was spent removing the Hedera helix and Ligustrum sinense populations from around the COWP Administration building with the use of handsaws and hand sprayers. The acting superintendant appreciated the work, as the English Ivy is right outside his window, blocking the view of existing native plants.

The team spent the last day of the work week annihilating Elaeagnus pungens and Ligustrum sinense from the COWP maintenance area where invasive plant populations are especially high in number. Then in the afternoon, backpack sprayers were brought to a new site. The COWP team each emptied three gallons of 3% mixed foliar spray at the site, covering a range of foliage on invasive plants. Unfortunately the team could not cover the entire area in a single day; but never fear, our work will continue on this area, as well as at the bamboo patch, as weather permits.

Best wishes from the COWP team

COWP