Friday, April 25, 2008
Special to suffredin.org

There will be a workday at Dwight Perkins Woods in Evanston on May 3rd and 4th, from 9:30 am to noon.  Below find a letter to Pioneer Press from Jancy Jerome, the volunteer steward for the Woods.

Help pull weeds

Everyone is invited to participate in the 18th annual garlic mustard weed pull, from 9:30 a.m. to noon May 3, and again on May 4, in Perkins Woods, part of the Cook County Forest Preserve located in northwest Evanston, between Ewing Avenue, Grant Street and Colfax Street.

Garlic mustard is a chief competitor of the native grasses and wildflowers that bloom each spring. This non-native plant will out-compete the native plants for space, light, water and nutrients.

Perkins Woods is an extraordinary piece of land that was preserved many years ago for all of our enjoyment. Visitors to this little forest preserve know that every April and May they can see many spring wildflowers. First pops spring beauty, then both red and white trillium, May apples, wild geranium and more.

The first garlic mustard pull was organized in 1989. With vigilance and a team of volunteers, we have been able to keep the garlic mustard weed in control. Last spring, we noticed that the jack-in-the-pulpits were growing in mass, a solid sign our spring wild flowers are thriving.

So pitch in and help keep our woods healthy. It is a great way to help the environment and be a part of your community. During the event, we also will clean and pick up trash for our annual cleaning of the woods. But again, we need your help.

For more information call me at (847) 492-0645 or Libby Hill at (847) 475-2096.

Jancy Jerome,
volunteer steward, of Perkins Woods, Evanston