August 27, 2020 - Work Party at the Carty Unit

Elena, our Volunteer Coordinator, being a total beast. The golf cart that we had intended to use for transportation of our tools and bags of flower heads actually died on us at the beginning of the work party. So, we had to trek back to the parking lot with all of our supplies on our backs. 

Volunteers were brought in this day to help with the removal of Common Mullein and Himalayan Blackberries from the restoration areas that surround the Oaks to Wetlands trail.

Why Remove Common Mullein?

Common mullein is a nonnative species that occurs throughout most of North America.

In much of the United States, Common Mullein is considered adventive or naturalized. Here on the Refuge however, Common Mullein is considered a potentially damaging invasive plant.

Common mullein produces abundant seed. One plant can produce over 200,000 seeds - which is the main reason that they can overtake an area and out compete the native plants. 

Common mullein was likely introduced to the eastern United States more than 230 years ago. Before the Revolutionary War, common mullein seeds were brought and cultivated by early settlers for the easy collection of fish. It is likely other initial introductions occurred as well, and given the many uses of common mullein, it was likely transported and cultivated by US settlers and tribes.

Their seeds can be resistant to fire and may be induced into germination post-fire - We may see an increase in germination of common mullein in areas that were part of the controlled-burns on the Refuge this year - something for us to keep an eye on. 

An Argiope orb weaver spider resting on a Common Mullein Stock. 

Spiders are cool!

During the work party, Elena came across this beautiful Orb weaver spider. She was able to show it to all of the volunteers that were working that day, and also relocated it to a tree - where it would be out of the way of habitat workers. For more information about the types of spiders you can find in Washington check out this cool spider chart!