Rescheduled to a cooler day!

Twiny vines covered in shiny new leaves and flower buds this time of year, with gorgeous red berries in an orange shell later in the season? It’s the dread bittersweet—a gardener’s nightmare.

On Friday, June 11, from 9-11AM, join the Chocorua Lake Conservancy for a morning of camaraderie, exercise, and invasive plant control at the Brown Lot across from Chocorua Lake. Our volunteer stewards will be learning to identify some common invasive plants and how to remove and control those that might otherwise out-compete native shrubs. 

Bittersweet, shiny buckthorn, Japanese barberry and Japanese knotweed are all considered invasive plants in New England: plants that evolved in other parts of the world that grow quickly, disburse large quantities of fruits or seeds, and often grow from underground root systems. Invasive plants can grow so thick in some places that they take over habitat normally available to native shrubs that provide cover and food for wildlife. 

Our work at the Brown Lot will focus on non-native bittersweet, where large vines have made their way into the canopy of some of the larger trees. We’ll be cutting vines and low growth in an attempt to keep the vines at bay. Japanese barberry is also present and we’ll tackle that as we come across it in the understory. This is a continuing  project after receiving Natural Resources Conservation Service cost-share funding to help with efforts.

The CLC owns the Brown Lot, an undeveloped property located across Rt. 16 from the lake. Working to limit the spread of invasive plants there helps to reduce the chances these species will spread to the lakeshore. Bring work gloves and a mask, and your favorite clippers if you have them, water and a snack. We will have some tools available if needed. We’ll work far enough apart to allow for social distancing to everyone’s comfort, but close enough to have a conversation when needed. Be prepared for bugs and ticks just in case. Meet at The Island public access area on the lake. Feel free to come for all or some of the morning. Please email lflaccus@chocorualake.org with your phone number to let us know you will be coming so that we can let you know of any changes in the schedule.

Banner image: The thick twining vine of bittersweet if you don’t catch it in time! Photo: Lynne Flaccus