September flowers at Oak Ridge Cedar Barren (Photo courtesy D. Colclasure)
The Oak Ridge Cedar Barren will again be the site of exotic invasive plant removal as Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning conduct its fall cleanup, its third and final cleanup of the year.
Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, the Barren is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, State Natural Areas Division, and TCWP. The area is one of just a few cedar barrens in East Tennessee, and it is the home to three state listed plants: prairie goldenrod, fewleaf sunflower and Torrey’s mountain mint.
The Barrens are subject to invasion by bushy lespedeza, leatherleaf viburnum, privet, autumn olive, mimosa, Nepal grass, multiflora rose, and woody plants that threaten the system¹s prairie grasses.
“Our efforts help to eliminate invasives and other shade-producing plants that prevent the prairie grasses and other prairie plants from getting needed sunlight,” a press release said.
Volunteers should meet in the Jefferson Middle School Parking lot at 9 a.m. Saturday, November 5, with sturdy shoes, loppers, gloves, and water. The work session will conclude at noon with a pizza lunch.
For more information, contact Tim Bigelow at (865) 607-6781 or Bigelowt2@mindspring.com.
This press release was submitted by Sandra Goss.
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