Members of AYLUS Syosset and Roslyn participated in an invasive plant species-removal event at Caumsett State Historic Park Reserve on Sunday, December 4th. While we were originally planning on attending on Saturday, there was a rainstorm so it was moved to Sunday. Though it was very cold outside, members continued to work hard at the tasks given: to remove the metal poles and string in the field to allow the native Baltimore Checkerspot butterflies to migrate, to remove the invasive fountain grass and the bioswale mugwort plants. Mugwort is commonly used as a traditional medicine and tea, however in New York it is a prevalent invasive plant that prevents the native plants from receiving ample sunlight. Members used shovels and brute-force to pull out large amounts of mugwort and replaced them with the seeds of some native plants including joe pye-weed.
Members who participated include:
Alyssa Huang (3 h), Haoyu Qiu (2.5 h), Nichole Huang (2 h), Joshua Tang (1.5 h).
