WINTERCREEPER WEDNESDAYS
Twice a month, thru 2024

Twelve volunteer work sessions from early May through late October. 

Why? - Because wintercreeper snuffs out native plants (and trees).

Wintercreeper on the trees will continue to spread seeds of this aggressive invasive plant throughout our park and neighborhoods unless we get it under control by cutting and treating. Read more on this site about why wintercreeper is bad.

Our 2023-2024 Rebuild KC grant funded ecological restoration contractors did work on the park's "best 6 acres" a couple times. After a walk-through with KCMO Parks' environmental manager, they were tasked with using cut/treat methods on bush honeysuckle, spraying ground carpets of wintercreeper, and basal bark spraying buckthorn and tree of heaven. This was a dramatic frontal assault on the park's worst invaders. 

But they didn't get the wintercreeper growing up trees. That's up to us volunteers.

See the "Best 6 ac -Volunteers" map for areas and notes with a focus on what us volunteers can do. Orange markers/areas were recently done. Red markers/areas are not yet done. The Wintercreeper Wednesday work sessions will focus on getting all the wintercreeper growing up trees within these areas as noted on the map. Burroughs Audubon recently posted about the inspiring rebirth of the Shirling Sanctuary in Swope park, using the same methods we're employing: contractors spraying the wintercreeper in September and volunteers cutting/treating it from the trees year 'round: facebook.com/AudubonKC/post... Another inspiring story is the KC Parks Ambassadors group that finished cutting ALL the honeysuckle from Gillham Park in 2023.

To find out about similar work efforts, message RoanokeParkKC on Facebook or on Instagram, or email Chris DeLong at nature(at)roanokeparkkc(dot)org.
Join the email from our home page and check [✔️] "Interested in Work Days" to get notice of these and other cleanups and habitat improvement events.

These events were added to the calendar of KC Parks Ambassadors. If you aren't a member, leaders Kelly Turner (Jander) and Sara Becker are inspirations and would love it if you joined them. 
Learn about it here: https://kcparks.org/volunteering/ 

Let’s form a community of Wintercreeper Warriors!

Session #1 Report (May 8)
Thanks to ADAM for helping Chris with the first event. We exposed a neat rock face topped by a rock wall dating to circa 1900 at the property line. Four volunteer hours logged.

Session #2 (May 22)
Chris worked alone since NO ONE ELSE came or could make it. Tap tap tap. 🎤 This thing on? Several wintercreeper plants trying to evolve into shrubs were cut and three trees were freed of the climbing vines. Additionally a native seeded patch was weeded. Started early and worked late so another four volunteer hours logged.

Session #3 (June 12)
Long-time helper Randy joined Chris, as did more recent helpers Carol (who brought Tom) and Emma (who brought Jen). The group ranged over the the area east of the Coleman Highlands Spring. A great deal was done and a very tall rock column almost completely exposed. Collectively, 14 volunteer hours were contributed.

Session #4 (June 26)
Randy returned to help as did neighbor and fellow former board member Bob Ellis. Russ from Fairway, a veteran from last winter's seeding event, also helped out. The group moved onto the Devil's Dip trail / Frank Lloyd Wright slope, where the trunks of wintercreeper on the trees have gotten as big as 6" in diameter. 9 volunteer hours were logged, adding to Chris' 2.5 hours the evening before on the Coleman Highlands slope (almost completely done there).

Session #5 (July 10)
Despite only being a party of two, Bob and Chris got a majority of the south meadow needs done. One more session there should do it. 5 volunteer hours were logged.

Session #6 (July 31)
"Lifetime volunteer" Miles participated to make it another party of two, continuing to work on the south meadow needs done. Not quite done there but we're moving on regardless. 4.5 volunteer hours were logged.

Session #7 (August 14)
The work crew of Chris and five helpers headed to the far west side of the park, around the Volker Spring. Two previous park helpers (Randy and David) were joined by three members of KC Parks Ambassadors. Jack was a veteran of anti-honeysuckle events and Scout and Howard were first timers. They said they had fun and would be back. 13.5 volunteer hours were logged.

Session #8 (August 29)
KC Parks Ambassador Howie returned to help Chris and Randy. A freak thunderstorm threatened but missed the park and it was just blue skies and breezes until dusk made us call it for the night. Many wintercreepers creep no more. 5.25 volunteer hours were logged.

Session #9 (September 11)
Adam H. returned to help Chris, cutting a mix of honeysuckle and wintercreeper below the Park Ct stairs, next to the middle trail that goes to the blue swings. Adam has put in countless hours in this general area and is big part of why you can now see from the top of the stairs to the bottom of the slope, and not a wall of honeysuckle. Four volunteer hours were logged.

Session #10 (September 25)
KC Parks Ambassador leader Sara B. brought new volunteer Erich. Old friend Alix Daniel also joined in, with the crew finishing this year's cutting of wintercreeper on the far west side of the park. Seven volunteer hours were logged.

Session #11 (October 9)
Sara B. returned to help Chris on the north side of the community center, beginning with collecting a nice bucket of bottlebrush wildrye seed for use elsewhere in the park. Then wintercreeper was cut from several trees and Chris nabbed an invasive burning bush shrub. Lastly Chris showed Sara the park's biggest chinkapin oak tree and only remnant grove of paw paw trees. 3.5 volunteer hours were logged.

Session #12 (October 23)
Sara B. helped finish out the season and was joined by neighbor and park steward Karen U. The focus area was the curve of the lower slope across from the community center. 6 volunteer hours were logged.