They’re Taking Over!

The boys recognized the most troublesome invasive vine in this area immediately.

Yes, it’s English ivy. Planted in landscapes around homes, this hardy non-native species has crept into natural areas and up trees, choking out anything in its path.

When the English ivy in the woods behind our townhome began to creep up our “kitchen window tree,” the tree we watch and enjoy from our window throughout the year, we decided it was time to wage war right here in our own neighborhood!

So, this week, taking advantage of the beautiful spring weather, we headed outdoors and began pulling English ivy from the wooded space behind our home.

Pulling English ivy is hard work! Connor lost interest within a few minutes, preferring to play in the woods around us, but Ryan is determined to help clear the Ivy out of this area – and then the rest of the woods! He stuck with pulling, gathering, bagging, and cutting the ivy for much longer than I ever anticipated. We still have about 2/3 of the area to clear, but thanks to Ryan’s persistence – and Connor’s willingness to play on his own – we are well on our way.

When the ivy is removed from this area, we are planning to install a native species bird garden. We have been inspired by the bird garden created by the boys of an on-line friend. Although our garden will be considerably smaller and simpler than theirs, we are excited at the prospect of reintroducing native bird-friendly plants into this area and are looking forward to watching our feathered visitors from our kitchen window throughout the year.

This evening in the area where the ivy has been removed, we spotted a robin pulling up worms and a pair of cardinals hopping about. It seems the birds approve!