Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Through Its Lifecycle

[Image credit: Douglas, G. W., et al (Editors). 1998. Illustrated Flora of British Columbia, Volume 2 © Province of British Columbia]

Know Thy Enemy Series

Welcome to part one in our series of invasive species education and identification guides. We'll periodically explore plants and animals that WVP Volunteers are actively engaged in controlling, as well as ones that should be on your radar. We'll start with the plant that much of our (R)estoration work will be focused on over the next two months: Garlic Mustard.

The plant that The Nature Conservancy calls "Invasive, Destructive & Edible" goes by many names: garlic mustard, hedge garlic, sauce-alone, jack-by-the-hedge, poor man's mustard, jack-in-the-bush, garlic root, garlicwort and mustard root.

This biennial plant has two nonidentical growth stages. It emerges during its first year as low lying clusters of basal rosettes of green, rounded leaves. During its second phase, the following spring, it grows between 12"-36" tall with toothed, heart shaped leaves accompanied by small flowers with four rounded white petals that set fruit as 2" thin seed pods. Anyone that has grown salad greens or tender herbs will recognize this phase as "bolting". In fact, this European transplant was brought to North America for its edible and medicinal properties but this garlic flavored member of the mustard family escaped the herb garden shortly after it arrived over 150 years ago. It was helped along by its resilience, early spring emergence and allelopathic properties.

Its ability to withstand a variety of conditions is well documented, as is its allelopathy. It produces a variety of toxic compounds that inhibit fungi in the soil that produce beneficial mycorrhizal symbiosis with the root systems of most plants, yet it thrives without this interaction. Since it also starts its growth cycle so early, it has another advantage of out competing its native neighbors, especially the second year plants that grow tall and dense. Of course, its greenery can make it easy to spot and identify during this season.

Hand pulling the plant is an effective control method and springtime's wet weather can help. Pulling the plants from wet soil helps to remove its roots completely without breaking them and allowing the plant to resprout. The uprooted plants should then be bagged and disposed of. Once the plant sets seed, pulling is no longer effective, as the disturbance can cause the seeds to fall and spread further. Each year is different but we're currently in the 2024 garlic mustard season, which will stretch until the plants go to seed.

We'll be holding various garlic mustard events with our Natural Area Managers and Volunteer Leaders or you can register for an Independent Project to help tame this plant.

Kind regards,

Sara Corrigan

WVP Coordinator

WVP Water Chemistry Monitoring Training with Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners

March 27, 2024 Brecksville Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(R) Work Session: Foster's Run Erosion Netting Removal

Wed, Apr 3, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. @ Foster's Run, North Chagrin Reservation

(R) Work Session: Garlic Mustard Removal 

Thu, Apr 11, 6 -8 p.m. @ Fowles Rd, Big Creek Reservation

(R) Volunteer Led Work Session: Garlic Mustard Removal

Tue, Apr 16, 6 -8 p.m. @ Baldwin Lake, Mill Sream Run Reservation

(L) Workshop: Crayfish with Roger Thoma*

Wed, Apr 17 National Crayfish Day!, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

(R) Work Session: Live Stake Planting

Tue, Apr 23, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Chippewa Creek, Brecksville Reservation

(R) Work Session: Earth Day & Arbor Day Tree Planting

Wed, Apr 24, 6 -8 p.m. @ Big Creek Reservation

(M) Training Session: Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI)

Thu, Apr 25, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation 

(M) Work Session: City Nature Challenge

Sat, Apr 27, 10 a.m. - Noon @ Chippewa Creek, Brecksville Reservation

(R) Work Session: Tree Planting

Wed, May 1, 6 -8 p.m. @ Polo Fields Stream Restoration, South Chagrin Reservation

(R) Work Session: Tree Planting

Fri, May 3, 10:30 -12:30 p.m. @ Engle Road Sledding Hill, Big Creek Reservation

(R) Work Session: Garlic Mustard Removal 

Tue, May 7, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. @ Sulphur Springs Picnic Area, South Chagrin Reservation

(M) Work Session: Scenic Rivers Macro Monitoring

Tue, May 14 (Rain Date: Fri May 17), 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. @ Old River Farm Picnic Area, North Chagrin Reservation 

(R) Volunteer Led Work Session: Garlic Mustard Removal

Wed, May 15, 6 -8 p.m. @ Baldwin Lake, Mill Sream Run Reservation

WVP volunteers, please log into Volgistics to register for primary events.

*Open to the public.  Click Here or Email us for the registration link.

World Water Day Macroinvertebrate Demonstration

March 23, 2024 @ Watershed Stewardship Laboratory, West Creek Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(S) West Creek Conservancy 2024 Annual Meeting

Tues Apr 9 6:30 - 8:30 pm @ Watershed Stewardship Center 2277 West Ridgewood Drive, Parma, OH 44134

Join us for West Creek Conservancy’s Annual Meeting on April 9, 2024 at 6:30pm. We’ll recap 2023 and look ahead at 2024. Refreshments provided. Space is limited, registration required. 

More Details and Registration Here  

(S) Rain Barrel Workshop - Shaker Heights

Wed, Apr 24, 6 - 7.30 p.m. @ Shaker Heights Service Yard, 15600 Chagrin Blvd Shaker Heights, OH 44120

This is a barrel and diverter kit pick up only. When you register, you will be sent a confirmation with instructions about how to make your barrel at home. All you need is your own drill! Pre-payment is required.

More Details and Registration Here  Cost $60

(S) Homegrown Conservation: Creating Climate and Wildlife-Friendly Yards

Wed, May 15, 5:30 - 8 p.m. @ Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works

Climate change and biodiversity loss are creating existential threats to people and nature. But we can help. In this presentation, you’ll learn about how traditional landscape management is contributing to climate change and biodiversity loss and discover small steps we can all take in our own backyards and communities to steward our landscapes for nature and wildlife.

More Details and Registration Here

(S) Guided Walk through Acacia Reservation, Transforming a Golf Course into a Natural Area

Thu, May 30th, 6:30 - 8 p.m. @ Cedar Road parking lot, 26899 Cedar Rd, Beachwood, OH 44122W

Join Chris Vild, Environmental Manager for Beachwood, and Jennifer Grieser, Director of Natural Resources for Cleveland Metroparks on a walk through Metropark's Acacia Reservation. The walk will talk about the history of the space specifically since the Metro Parks took ownership of the property and what it takes to transform a golf course back into a natural area.

More Details and Registration Here  

Cleveland Metroparks | Digital Emerald Necklace*

Sign up here

More (S)upplemental events can be found on our website here.

*WVP volunteers can submit supplemental hours in Volgistics under (S) Watershed Partner Event Contact us if you need assistance reporting any hours.

The picture isn't upside down; the animal swims upside down!!

Here is a fairy shrimp from Walnut Woods in Central Ohio. These cool little crustaceans only live in temporary bodies of water called vernal pools. You can find vernal pools throughout Ohio and even most of the world. Tami Gingrich, a retired biologist for the Geauga Park District, writes about these habitats in the article directly below.

[Photo Credit: Andrea Krava/Mindi McConnell]

A Retired Biologist from the Geauga Park District Reflects on the Vulnerable Ecosystems Known as Vernal Pools | Read on

How the Total Solar Eclipse Will Affect Animals in Northeast Ohio | Read on and watch video here

Where Have All the Trees Gone? | Read on or listen here

Could a Bridge Over the Cuyahoga River Collapse Like the One in Baltimore? No, and Here’s Why. | Read on

Fish, Frogs, and…..Pharmaceuticals? How Researchers Are Addressing Ohio’s Medicated Streams | Read on or listen here

Seasonal Plant Management Technician - Wetland Focus NR2

Cleveland Metroparks, Willoughby Hills, OH | Apply Here

Seasonal Watershed Sampler

Del-Co Water Company, Inc. - Delaware, OH | Apply Here

Wetland Project Manager

EnviroScience - Stow OH or Remotely as Part of PA Team | Apply Here

Water Quality Intern

Muskingum Watershed Conservancy - New Philadelphia, OH | Apply Here

Wetland Scientist

Chagrin Valley Engineering - Cleveland, OH | Apply Here

Wetland Wildlife Field Technician

Wildlife Ecology Institute - MI, OH | Apply Here

Ecological Restoration Construction Technician

Enviroscience - Stow, OH | Apply Here

Landscape Architect

Biohabitats - Cleveland, OH | Apply Here