Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis

Dates for the 2012 garlic mustard pulls at Roberts Bird Sanctuary and William Berry Woods are listed below by location. Both sites are close to Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. Garlic mustard is easy to recognize and easy to pull. No experience is necessary. We provide gloves if you want to use them. Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult. We plan to add more dates so don’t forget to check back.

Why is garlic mustard an ecological threat?

■Garlic mustard spreads into high quality woodlands upland and floodplain forests, not just into disturbed areas.
■Invaded sites undergo a decline on native herbaceous cover within 10 years.
■Garlic mustard alters habitat suitability for native insects and thereby birds and mammals.
■This European exotic occurs now in 27 midwestern and northeastern states and in Canada.
■Garlic mustard is a MDA Prohibited noxious weed (Controlled List) in Minnesota.

Click here to visit the MN DNR site and learn more about garlic mustard and other invasive species.

Roberts Bird Sanctuary (RBS) information & dates:

Location & parking: RBS is located on the north side of Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. Meet at the RBS Visitors Shelter at 4124 Roseway Road (next to the Peace Garden and across the street from the Rose Garden). We have parking passes so you don’t have to pay the $0.75/hour at the RBS lot. Please ask for a pass before you pay the meter – we can’t give refunds. Parking is free (but limited!) along Lake Harriet Parkway.

Restrooms & drinking fountains: There are two permanent porta-potties at the RBS parking lot. There is a drinking fountain across the street at the Rose Garden. There are also indoor facilities near the Lake Harriet Bandshell about 1/3 mile walk from the RBS Visitors Shelter & lot.

Roberts Bird Sanctuary 2012 Garlic mustard pulls:

Saturday, April 14 11 am – 1 pm
Sunday, May 6, 2 pm – 4 pm
Sunday, May 13, 2 pm – 4 pm
Saturday, May 26, 11 am – 1 pm
Sunday, June 3, 11 am – 1 pm

William Berry Woods (WBW) information & dates:

William Berry Woods map and background

Location & parking: WBW is located between lakes Harriet & Calhoun in Minneapolis. Click on WBW map above for the exact location. Meet at the W. 40th Street side. Parking is free on the residential streets around WBW but watch out for restrictions. There is NO parking on William Berry Parkway.

No restrooms or drinking fountains in WBW. The closest facilities are near the Lake Harriet Bandshell about 1/4 mile walk from WBW.

William Berry Woods 2012 Garlic mustard pulls:

Saturday, April 28, 2 pm – 4 pm CANCELED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN
Saturday, May 19, 2 pm – 4 pm

2012 Buckthorn pulls will occur in the fall. Check back in August for dates and times.

Thank you to everyone who helped pull and haul buckthorn at Roberts Bird Sanctuary and William Berry Woods during Fall 2011. Please join us this spring at the garlic mustard pulls and planting events listed above.

General information for all buckthorn pulls:

Everyone is welcome; children under 12 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
The pulls last two and a half hours but you don’t have to stay for the whole time. Feel free to arrive late and/or leave early.
We have some gloves available; it’s helpful if you bring your own. We recommend the heavy duty canvas style gloves.
We provide the tools – weed wrenches & root talons. They’re easy to use; we’ll show you how.
Dress for the weather; layers work best. Expect to get dirty.
Consider bringing water (or some other beverage) and bug spray.
Pulls will be cancelled if it is raining or snowing heavily – check the ACM website for cancellation updates.
To learn more about buckthorn, check out the MN DNR publication: buckthorn_what_you_should_know.