John Knox Ranch Workday
HCMN Volunteer Project 1001
All photos: courtesy Mary O’Hara and Steve Janda
Steve Janda
“What a fine, filthy day!” Hays County Master Naturalist Mary O’Hara so aptly described the days’ work of fellow volunteers April 15-16 at beautiful John Knox Ranch, a non-profit summer camp and retreat center in Fischer, Texas.
HCMNs removed invasive Eurasian watermilfoil from Carper’s Creek, as well as Malta star-thistle and Bastard cabbage from portions of the 300-acre property.
HCMNs remove invasive plants on the property.
According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) is a perennial plant native to Europe, Asia, and Africa and was probably brought to the U.S. as an aquarium plant. Found in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams throughout the U.S., it’s considered one of the most aggressive and problematic invasives because of the dense colonies it forms.
Malta star-thistle (Centaurea melitensis) and bastard cabbage (Rapistrum rugosum) hardly need descriptions, as they are invasive species well known to dominate the Hill Country landscape and crowd out our native wildflowers.
The work crew removed pallets of Malta star-thistle…
…and haystacks of bastard cabbage.
Hays County Master Naturalists who participated in this conservation project included James Bean, Sarah Carlisle, Stuart Hays, Cindy Hobson, Louise Hofman, Debbie Hyde, Steve Janda, Mary and Thomas Kaminski, Barbara Kaul, Antoine Myc, Mary O’Hara, Jennifer and Rob Pederson, and Meghan Rossi.
This crew removed the watermilfoil.
This group removed the Malta star-thistle and bastard cabbage.
Many thanks to our John Knox Ranch hosts, who led us in this in this project: Amy Lyles, John Knox Ranch School Program Coordinator and Matthew Wood, John Knox Ranch Program Specialist.
If you’re interested in being placed on the list to participate in future projects at John Knox Ranch, contact Steve at Steve.Janda@haysmn.org.