To honor Earth Day this year, Good Wolf Gear has organized an invasive plant-pulling event at Walker Nature Center in Reston on Monday, April 28, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to noon—and you’re invited to attend. Please email us at howl@goodwolfgear.com to reserve a spot and receive full details.
You can help stop the invasion of our forests and other natural areas by exotic plants and animals. You’ve probably heard of some notorious invasive species, such as spotted lanternflies, emerald ash borers, or chestnut blight. In our area, some infamous invasive plants include garlic mustard, Japanese barberry, and bush honeysuckle (left to right in the photos below).
I spend the majority of my volunteer hours as a Virginia Master Naturalist removing invasive plants because I enjoy the physical work and being outdoors. It can be quite therapeutic! Plus, I always learn something while working with others.
Fairfax County defines these invasive species (plants, animals, or diseases) as those intentionally or accidentally introduced by human activity causing ecological or economic damage within a region in which they did not evolve. These species are usually characterized by unrestricted growth with few natural pests or predators. These qualities allow them to spread quickly, and they can aggressively out-compete desired native species causing harm to natural resources, humans, and the local economy.
I always think about the features people find desirable in a landscape plant:
- Insect resistant
- Deer resistant
- Disease resistant
- Thrives under all conditions of soil, light, etc
- Lots of interesting berries
And then I realize that this is the perfect recipe for an invasive species! It provides little to no benefit to wildlife, will out-compete native species, and it will rapidly spread. It's always best to landscape with native plants to attract birds and other wildlife, and Plant Nova Natives can help you choose.
If you can't join us for our workday, take a look at the Fairfax County Invasive Management Area Calendar to find another opportunity that works for you. Here are some links to learn more about invasive species and the actions you can take:
- Fairfax County - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/invasive-species
- Blue Ridge Prism - https://blueridgeprism.org/
- US Dept of Agriculture - https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/species-profiles-list
- US Forest Service - https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/invasives/index.shtml