By Rob St.Germain, contributing writer 

They came armed with loppers, saws and work gloves.  Within 2 hours they had cleared two large truckloads of invasive plants. They are Weed Warriors, citizen volunteers who offer their time to learn about and help remove invasive species, and they just completed another work step toward the completion of the new Ashland Arboretum.

“I am always amazed at how even a small group of helpers can make such a big difference,” exclaimed Becca Solomon, Ashland Conservation Agent.  “It is very satisfying work”.

Arboretum is defined as a botanical garden devoted to trees.  The Ashland Arboretum will be that and more.  The list of native plants includes: 4 types of Redbuds, Paper Birch, 6 types of Hydrangea, Chokeberry, Milkweeds, Indigo, Cone flowers, Lupine, Blazing Star, and many more.  It will also be a park with benches and pergola – a place to relax and enjoy nature.  It will be an island of nature’s beauty near the more commercialized east side of Ashland and the Route 126 corridor.

 Work at the Arboretum will continue throughout the summer with additional weed work in June, grading and delivery of planting soil in July and August.  The planting of trees, shrubs and flowering plants is scheduled for the fall.  And, with any luck and barring another major drought, a beautiful 2026 spring display will dazzle Ashland as new life blooms on the once badly polluted property.

The Arboretum Story

The evolution of the Ashland Arboretum is a heartening story of citizens working with local, state, and federal government toward a best possible outcome.  

The former occupant of the Eliot Street site, the Cadilac Paint and Varnish Company, went out of business in 1987 leaving dilapidated buildings and a variety of pollution issues. Beginning in 1998, neighbors Phil Cunningham and Ed Hart invited folks to a backyard meeting to discuss support for a cleanup of the site. The park idea evolved over time as the preferred outcome following resolution of many of legal issues and site remediation by the Environmental Protection Agency and Mass DEP.  In 2017 the Town took possession of the property and, with help from Senate President Karen Spilka and State Rep. Jack Lewis, received a grant for site prep and engineering.   The Arboretum concept was suggested by town planner, Alvaro Esparza.

“Citizen participation has been the key to success” offered Ed Hart, “and we had lots of help and guidance from town leaders and staff.”  

Wanted: More Weed Warriors 

You too can be a Weed Warrior. The need is great.

“Invasive plants are a serious problem throughout the town” declared Becca Solomon.   

Plants are termed invasive when they are observed to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health.  These plants have the propensity to out-compete native species by a variety of means such as seed spreading, early foliation, and even ‘chemical warfare’ by their roots.  So successful are these invaders that butterflies and other pollinating insects can no longer find adequate food sources for their survival.  To combat this problem there is a strong push by environmentalists to plant pollinator gardens -- gardens featuring plants preferred by native insects.

One of the most damaging invasive is Bittersweet, a non-native ornamental vine known for its attractive red and orange berries in the fall.  Once established, it is very difficult to eliminate, but left unchecked it will strangle and kill even large healthy trees.   Other serious invasives in this area are Japanese Barberry, Knotweed, Burning Bush and Buckthorn.  High on the undesirable list are Garlic Mustard and Wild Celandine which crowd out native flowering plants.

Total removal of invasives is most likely beyond possibility but through citizen participation as Weed Warriors we can create invasive free areas in which preferred plants will thrive.

Weed Warriors are friends and neighbors, people who are willing to endure scratches, bruises, dirty hands and clothes to help control invasive plants around town.  For example, Weed Warriors have been very helpful controlling Japanese Barberry in the Town Forest with the removal of over 4000 plants.  Barberry is a public health threat.  It produces little red berries that feed wild mice who in turn are primary deer tick spreaders. Deer ticks can cause Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus – all serious human illnesses.

Through their efforts Weed warriors also help create and maintain places of beauty such as the Ashland Arboretum.  Additional weed-pulls will be scheduled throughout the year at the Arboretum and other locations.    Anyone interested in learning about or helping to remove invasive plants are invited to contact Becca Solomon, Ashland’s Conservation agent at [email protected].  

“Volunteering with Weed Warriors is a great way to meet others in the community while helping restore the land for both people and wildlife,” said Becca with a smile. “Come join us!”