On 5/21, AYLUS Great Neck Branch volunteered at Friendship Garden to address the issue of an overgrown garden established in the 1970s. The garden was originally created to showcase native asalius, but over time, invasive plants took over. Additionally, due to climate change and rising sea levels, the area experienced increased wetness. The long-term goal was to transition the garden into a wetland garden by introducing plants that are adaptive to wet areas.
One of the main challenges we faced during the volunteer event was distinguishing between native plants and invasive ones, as they often appeared similar. We learned to identify and remove invasive plants such as poison ivy, mugwort, ortredgwass, yellow flag iris, and fred mighties. It was crucial to prevent the spread of these invasive species, as they negatively impacted the garden’s ecosystem.
On the other hand, plants like iris pseudacorus were problematic because they absorbed too much oxygen, more than they can produce, and worsened the already challenging situation.
Our ultimate goal was to establish a balanced ecosystem that supports a diverse range of wildlife and minimizes the negative impact of invasive species. By volunteering at Friendship Garden, AYLUS Great Neck Branch took a step towards restoring the garden’s original purpose and preserving native plant species.
Members Participated (2.5h): I-Han Liao, Lucas Liao, Zoe Xia, Wenda Dong, Feier Xu
