Volunteers celebrate Earth Day 2013 by caring for Tryon Creek with stewardship activities in the park

 

The Friends of Tryon Creek welcomed volunteers from Lewis & Clark College, Intel, First United Methodist Church, and SOLV, to help care for the park by removing invasive species at the April 20th annual Elinor Levin Garlic Mustard Day & Earth Day Celebration.

 

Friends' member Stephanie Wagner teaches Intel employees about garlic mustard

 These power-house volunteers pulled enough garlic mustard to fill three big bags, and fifteen cubic yards of ivy!

The ecological health of Tryon Creek State Natural Area depends upon volunteer work parties that tend to the park and its trails: without these stewardship efforts Tryon Creek would be overrun by non-native species that outcompete native plants and threaten the whole ecosystem of the park.  The Friends thank Lewis & Clark, Intel, First United Methodist Church, and SOLV for lending a hand and helping to care for Oregon's only urban state park.

Photo credit: Mike Beard