Serpentine Ecosystem Restoration Program -- Wavyleaf Basketgrass Pull
| When: | Tomorrow August 17, 2025 |
| 8:00 am Sunday | |
| Where: | Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area 5100 Deer Park Road Owings Mills, MD 21117 |
| How Much: | FREE, Donations Welcome! |
It's high summer, and that means it's time to hand-pull wavyleaf basketgrass! (See here for more information on this annoying invasive species.)
The main goal of the Serpentine Ecosystem Restoration Program (SERP) is to restore the area to its pre-European settlement habitat of native oak savanna (also known as a serpentine barren). During European colonization of the area, the natural cycle of fire from lightning strikes and native American hunting techniques was suppressed, causing the once-plentiful scrub oaks, tall grasses and wildflowers of the oak savanna to give way to other plant species. Our restoration efforts include manually removing plant species that took root when the fire culture was interrupted, including fire-intolerant Virginia pine, eastern red cedar and greenbrier in winter, and in the summer, wavyleaf basketgrass.
We will assemble at 8:00 a.m. on four weekend days in August (August 3, 17, 23 and 30), and be finished by noon to beat the summer heat. There are several areas at Soldiers Delight where the wavyleaf basketgrass can be pulled and bagged. One good thing about wavyleaf (for our volunteers) is that it prefers to grow in the shade. Since the plant has already started to flower and set seed, we will be bagging and hauling out all the germinating parts to make sure it doesn't re-seed.
Our SERP coordinator, Maryland's Wildlife and Heritage Service biologist Paula Becker, says that wavyleaf basketgrass is loosely rooted in the soil, which is important since it needs to be pulled out by the root. (You will be trained on how to do this and what to look for in the field.)
If you are looking for an ideal way to work off some pounds, get a good workout in the great outdoors, earn Service Learning Hours, or do significant good in service of conservation, participating in a SERP event is a wonderful way to make a tangible difference in a sensitive, unique and wonderful natural environment.
Questions or to sign up for one (or more!) of the four dates listed above? Call Paula Becker at 410-260-8568 or email her at paula.becker@maryland.gov, tell her which August date(s) you wish to volunteer, and she will provide parking location information for that particular day.
