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Volunteers gather to rip out harmful growth threatening botanical garden: 'Abso…
One TikToker shared how they're using invasive plant removal to help reset overgrown nature preserves.
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Community Unites to Combat Invasive Plants at St. Johns Botanical Garden
St. Johns Botanical Garden Hosts Successful Invasive Plant Removal Event St. Johns, FL – Volunteers gathered at the St. Johns Botanical Garden Nature Preserve recently for a significant invasive plant removal event, led by local botanist and conservationist Nick Rust, known as RustyExotics online. The initiative aimed to restore native habitats by targeting aggressive non-native species that threaten the local ecosystem. Among the primary targets were Category I invasive plants such as Ruellia simplex (Mexican Petunia), Urena lobata (Caesar Weed), Lygodium japonicum (Japanese Climbing Fern), and Dioscorea bulbifera (Air Potato). Rust explained that these plants rapidly spread and outcompete native flora, forming dense monocultures that suffocate other plant life and cause significant harm to the ecosystem. "This stuff was so thick, but the damp ground made it easy to pull," Rust noted, referring to the dense patches of Ruellia simplex. Volunteers worked in two groups, diligently clearing the invasive plants from pathways and heavily infested areas. The collective effort resulted in substantial progress, leaving cleared spaces where native species can now thrive. Rust expressed profound gratitude to all who participated and supported the event, emphasizing the importance of ongoing conservation efforts. "Without control, they outcompete everything," he stated, highlighting the continuous need for such initiatives to protect native biodiversity. The success of this event paves the way for future conservation projects at the preserve.
