Garlic Mustard. Two words I had never heard before until this past fall. An invasive plant? Sounds scary! Does it really harm our native plants? YES!
I would like to take time to thank you. You worked a lot this past fall learning about invasive plants and the damage they do to our surroundings. Having spent the last 10 years in Royal Oak (our yard was about 10 feet by 10 feet), I was never really concerned or knew about invasive species. It wasn't until this fall that you helped educate me and and our local community about invasive plants such as garlic mustard, oriental bittersweet and autumn olive. You brought in experts from the MSU Extension and marked and removed invasive plants on our property (both amazing things).
This spring, my wife and I started receiving email notices from the Cascade Woods Neighborhood Association about the garlic mustard plant and what we could do to get rid of it. I quickly looked at around our property and did not see anything. However, last night while playing baseball in our backyard, I saw a group of plants in our backyard. I went back and looked...not sure what they were, I pulled a picture of garlic mustard and to my disbelief...our backyard had begun to be taken over.
Having learned the importance of stopping invasive plants from all of you, I knew I had to take action. I spent an hour and half collecting 5 trash bags of garlic mustard plants. I know my work is not done and will have to continue to monitor the area. However, I know plants from my yard won't be spreading into my local community and the ecosystem in my yard is now healthier.
Without all of you, I would have never known about garlic mustard and the devastation it can do. Thank you to all you for educating me. Because of you, I was able to stop an invasive plant in my yard!
Thanks!
Mr. Simpson
For our families, if you would like more information about garlic mustard, please go to http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/garlic_mustard_may_be_michigans_worst_woodland_weed
Here is a picture of a garlic mustard plant:
