11/13/11 Tallow, Taro and Air Potatoes

Today I led a University of Central Florida Eco-Advocates and Eco-Action team to fight the exotics in Jay Blanchard Park in Orlando. We took out 90 Taro plants, 2 big Chinese Tallow Trees adn 1 Air Potatoe vine. We took out some litter also.

Although we worked hard today I have just scratched the surface of the invasion in this park. The best park of today was having everyone grab the base of this one Chinese Tallow tree at the same time. We piled upon eachother and all together ripped that invasive SOB right out of the ground roots and all.

11/4/11 Cesar Weeds, Taros and Tallows

I returned to Lake Mills Park today. Eco-Action is cleaning the lake of litter and I'm on land fighting the war on exotics. I took out 21 Taro plants from the shoreline, 50 Cesar Weed Plants (again every one I could find) and 1 Chinese Tallow Tree.

10/10/11 Lake Mills

A did a walk though and took out 14 Cesar Weeds (which was every one I could find) and 1 mid sized Chinese Tallow Tree. I used my "Puller Bear" to rip the Chinese Tallow out of the ground roots and all.

Big Econlockhatchee River Water Hyacinth Hunt

     I headed out mid morning and disturbed a huge flock of White Ibis birds. There was about 40 of them and they expolded with wings flapping and duck like calls. Due to the river being very flooded I had to wade out to my canoe and pull it up from underwater. I went out and found the recent flood has brought with it thousands of Water Hyacinths. I collected 101 of them and three Chinese Tallow Trees.
     Pulling out a tree while blancing in a canoe is a real test of skill. If you think of the most skilled canoeists in the world, the volunteers from Eco-Action.net are better.