Our state forest nursery depends on volunteer support to be able to provide native tree seedlings to the public at low cost. Our increasingly rainy summers mean that weeds are a bigger challenge than ever. Volunteers coming to help weed gives our baby trees the space they need to grow well quickly, to be able to be sent around the state to re-vegetation projects and backyards alike.

As the season winds down, we turn our attention to cleaning up the windrows and seed bank areas. Plenty of invasives to remove, as well as some seedling trees that are growing under the mother trees here and there. You’ll get to see a range of mature native trees and shrubs, and learn a bit about how they are maintained for seed production here at the nursery.  We’ll also be spending some time in the new Demonstration Garden, weeding, creating a new bed or two, and perhaps transplanting a few baby trees into the new beds.