I first noticed it last weekend. Yesterday on the trail it was very obvious. Today it’s here in the backyard. The geese have returned. I hadn’t realized how much I missed their honking and carrying on. My cat, Sophie, welcomes them back too, sitting in the window crouched down, gibbering away in some mysterious cat language. A few mallards have returned as well. The lake is still ice covered, but now there are pools of water forming on top of the ice. I can here the water from the creek rushing down under the ice to meet the water’s edge. No doubt about it; spring is definitely in the air.
The birds are vocal as ever on the trail. The juncos are still around, but they should be leaving soon. The warm weather has melted most of the snow and ice on the trail, exposing a soft, muddy surface. The challenges of spring walking. The only green visible are the rosettes of garlic mustard due up this spring. There’s a lot of them. Unfortunately, this trail has seen its share of invasive plants. Rails now trails like the one I walk are often havens for native plant populations, spared the plough and development. I’ll keep an eye out as the spring progresses to see what native flora appears.
This garlic mustard is a tenacious invader. The spring is typically a time for many delicate, low-lying wildflowers like bloodroot and hepatica here in the North Country. At 2 to 3 1/2 feet tall, garlic mustard outcompetes them for sunlight, nutrients, and space. The fauna that depends on the native flora is also put at risk. A single plant can produce thousands of seeds and distribute them several feet away from the source. The seeds are also easily transported by humans and wildlife.
Garlic mustard was first recorded in the U.S. in New York in 1868, having been brought over for its culinary and/or medicinal value. It has now spread to 30 states and Canada. The plant itself is appropriately named. It has a mildly foul, garlic-like odor. Deer do not like it. The plant appears to have no natural enemies. It can be easily weeded out of an area, provided it is done before the mature plants have flowered and spread more seed. Unfortunately, such methods are merely a drop in the bucket when it comes to massive invasions. Prescribed burning tends to exacerbate the problem by opening up ground for invasions. Biological control methods such as the introduction of garlic mustard-loving beetles, have shown some success.
I hope the garlic mustard is controlled on the trail. I for one would certainly miss the lovely parade of spring wildflowers. The trail would not be nearly as lovely without violets and spring beauties.
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