Woodland Restoration

The Woodlands - A Love Story

Looking up at the trees, trails of vines were slung over every branch, like matted hair. Oriental Bittersweet. Japanese Honeysuckle. Young dead trees, barely taller than myself, were wrapped in them, like sad sculptures. Across the woodland floor, bushes with bright yellow branches and red berries had colonized every foot. Japanese Barberry. Close behind it in dense patches were tall and viciously thorny stalks, that seemed to grab at you as you walked by. Multiflora Rose. The spaces in between were chaotic colonies of bright red and furry half-circles growing in continuous loops. Japanese Wineberry bushes.

Beginning in February 2020, we trudged every day to this overtaken corner of the woodland in our backyard to evict these unwelcome plants. With shovels, shrub removal tools, and our bare hands, we pulled them out by the roots and piled them up at the woodland edge. A connection began to grow between this patch of woods and ourselves, as we started to know each of its spaces - the beech grove, the bend of the small stream, the courageous spice bushes eeking out their survival surrounded by invasive plants.

The changing seasons brought both delight and despair. While new enemies emerged - Garlic Mustard, Knotweed, and the dreaded Japanese Stiltgrass - native friends also began to lift their heads. First, the small and delicate Spring Beauties. Then Showy Orchids, in pinks and purples. Jack-in-the-Pulpit. Purple and yellow Violets. As summer came to an end, Asters, Goldenrods, and Mistflower proudly bloomed.

As we learned, our caretaking developed. We researched and planned the native plants to replace the invasive ones, to make it harder for them to re-establish. What once was an endless tangle of Barberry, changing the soil chemistry and upsetting the ecosystem, was now Serviceberry, Ninebark, Witch Hazel, Button Bush, Chokeberry, Coralberry and other native shrubs and understory plants. Using fishing wire, we created a simple fence to close off the patch of woods, so that native plants trying to grow would have a fighting chance against the hungry deer.

Millions of years of evolution ties native insects, birds and mammals to native food systems: without the native plants, native insect populations plummet. It will be a long battle to try to build this piece of the woods into a healthy habitat with native and diverse food sources where our insects, pollinators, birds, and other local wildlife can thrive. But it is a critical and worthwhile one. What started as a project, has grown into an act of love for the native creatures and plants big and small fighting to survive in a changed ecosystem.

Story by Lillie Rosen

This project is championed by Lillie and Elie who have worked tirelessly in the forest. Special thanks to Kai Pederson of SunLeaf Gardens for his guidance and generosity in restoring this magical place.