Protecting Weston's Valuable Assets

Weston Invasive Plant Action Group (WIPAG)

Have you noticed the gigantic, bamboo-looking plants growing along Route 20 and seemingly sprouting up everywhere? This is Japanese knotweed, a very invasive and aggressive plant. Japanese knotweed can wreak havoc by crowding out native plants, altering habitats, blocking sightlines on roadsides, impacting building foundations, and more. WIPAG, an informal collaborative representing Town organizations, staff, and volunteers concerned with the preservation of Weston’s biodiversity and natural ecosystems, has been focusing on containing and minimizing the spread of knotweed. Learn how to identify and control knotweed.

For information on other invasive species that can be found in Weston, as well as tips on how to control them on your own property

Photo of large invasive plants with a person in the middle of the photo.

Stewardship Saturdays

Join the Conservation Department and WFTA on the third Saturday of every month for stewardship and camaraderie as we work collaboratively to manage 2,000 acres of Conservation Land and 100 miles of trails. Stewardship Saturday projects include invasive plant management, trail construction, and maintenance, boardwalk and bridge construction, trash pickup, stone wall beautification, etc. For more information and to sign-up, visit this link.

Our June event was held at the Dickson Riding Rings, and lots and lots of invasive Japanese knotweed were removed. Several methods were used as we are experimenting with various approaches to effectively address this aggressive invasive. Volunteers will need to return multiple times throughout this season to cut any regrowth. Thank you to all who helped for your hard work and enthusiasm!

Volunteers cleaning up a trail during a stewardship saturday event.

Trail Work (Building and Re-Routing)

Learning and improving our trail maintenance skills benefits us all. In April, Conservation Department staff, Weston Forest and Trail Association (WFTA) representatives, and other hard-working volunteers participated in a trail-building training exercise led by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

This particular training/work session focused on retiring/closing a section of a perennially wet and mucky trail and creating a new bypass trail. First, they reviewed the mechanics and theory of trail construction, and then they had some hands-on learning.
If you are interested in helping to improve Weston’s Conservation Land, please join volunteers for a Stewardship Saturday.

group of stewardship saturday volunteers in the woods, discussing trail building

Highland Street Cleanup at Sunset Corner

Cleanup, clean up, everybody do your share! As part of Weston’s Annual Town Cleanup and in honor of Earth Day, representatives from the Conservation Commission, Conservation staff, WFTA, and the Weston Pollinator Plant Alliance (WPPA) collected several bags of trash along Highland Street at Sunset Corner. Thank you to all who participated!

Volunteers posing after cleaning up Highland Street

Working to Enhance our Pollinators

Submitted by Barbara Fullerton

The Weston Plant Pollinator Alliance (WPPA) is a local volunteer organization dedicated to wild pollinator conservation and the restoration of biodiversity in and around Weston. Conservation of native pollinators is critical for encouraging biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and preserving the natural world.

Ongoing WPPA community projects include the installation of public Pollination Preservation Display Gardens throughout Weston, which highlight beneficial native plants that support at-risk native bumblebees, moths, and butterflies. We want these to be examples of pollinator plants that can be easily incorporated into existing landscapes.

Our first pollinator garden was installed on the Rail Trail near Concord Rd in the early summer of 2021 with a variety of pollinator-friendly plants. We are currently working on a long-term project to restore the landscape on Sunset Corner at the top of Highland Street. There is very little natural vegetation on the slope, so we will need to improve the soil first and then introduce native plants that can flourish in sunny, dry conditions.

Weston Plant Pollinator Alliance members working on Rail Trail garden, by Nicole Mordecai

Town Center Garlic Mustard Pull

Submitted by Kortni Wroten, Town of Weston Sustainability Coordinator

Just in time for Earth Day, Town Employees geared up for Sustainable Weston Action Group's (SWAG) Annual Town Cleanup, where they took on the area around Town Hall to collect not only rubbish but the invasive plant called garlic mustard. Together, they collected over a dozen bags of mustard garlic plants and trash -- including two-floor lamps! A strange find...

The Annual Town Cleanup was one of many events in Weston this spring focused on sustainability in Town, along with the Earth Day Celebration that was cosponsored by Land's Sake and the Town, where hundreds of environmental stewards and enthusiasts attended to celebrate all things green. The Town raffled off a free rain barrel to promote an annual program to help residents conserve water with their lawns and gardens. The Sustainability Coordinator, Kortni Wroten, hosted a table at the Town Center Celebration in the following weeks, promoting the sustainable features of the newly designed Town Center. Such features included bike racks, water bottle filling stations, safe and walkable sidewalks, recycling bins, trees, and plantings, and LED lights! Weston is well on its way to becoming a more sustainable community day by day. To find out how you can get involved, visit WestonAhead.org.

Town Hall employees posing in front of Town Hall before a clean up

Community Garden at Merriam Street

Submitted by Wayne Johnson

The Community Garden at Merriam Street has been available to Weston residents since the early 70s. Originally managed by Bill McElwain and most recently by Freddie Wiss, the garden provides members with gardening space, previously used by farmers. A few of the biggest advantages is the provision of water and a sun-filled space, as well as the opportunity to meet and learn from fellow gardeners.

A committee was recently established to augment the sense of community at the Garden. The Community Garden has expanded substantially since its origin and now includes over 75 spaces. The new committee has six members with substantial garden experience.
Working with the Weston Conservation Commission, the committee identified several strategic initiatives. It was observed that the garden needed a substantial cleanup and two large dumpsters were provided. Several tons of wood, plastic, glass, and metal were collected by the current gardeners over a one-week period. The results were dramatic. Recognizing the need for the continuous disposal of organic material, a new staging area is currently being established to further impact the appearance and efficiency of the garden.

Looking forward, when the production of vegetables is at its peak, the committee hopes to provide opportunities for members to distribute excess vegetables to support families and organizations due to higher food prices.
For more info go to: https://www.westonma.gov/493/Weston-Community-Gardens

Highland Street at Love Lane Trail Re-Route

The approach trail into Highland Forest from the water tank entrance opposite Love Lane was re-routed in January to avoid traversing over private property at 156 Highland Street. The homeowners at 156 Highland Street provided the funding, equipment, and labor for the project. The new trail was constructed with gravel and stone dust finish to allow maintenance and emergency vehicle access into the greater Highland Forest trail system. Many thanks for their generosity and willingness to assist the Town in maintaining an enjoyable and safe trail system.

Have a Seat at Jericho Forest's Field Benches

Submitted by Teddy Glaeser

A big thank you to Teddy Glaeser for building benches and creating a peaceful spot for all to enjoy. Teddy’s inspiration:

“My family members have been walking weekly to French’s Field for over 15 years since we moved to Weston. When we were small, it was helpful to have a destination for family walks in the woods. As my mother recalls, we would grumpily trudge along the paths to and from the field, but while we were there it served as a great place for us children to run around and stop for a snack. The ~2-acre field is named for Stanley French (1902-1969), former Weston resident and leader of conservation efforts in town. When I heard that the WFTA and WCC would consider allowing some benches at the field, it seemed like a great and personally meaningful Eagle Scout project. We started building the benches back on a snowy day in January at the Weston Scout house, ultimately delivering them to the field in late April, once the snow and mud had cleared. With the generous help of Scout leaders, Scouts, neighbors, and family members, and support of the WCC and WFTA, we now have a spot for visitors to sit and enjoy the flora and fauna of French’s field.”

Two children posing next to the benches near the field.

Mosquitos and Tick Awareness and Prevention

Mosquito season is upon us. While we all enjoy spending time outdoors, no one enjoys mosquitoes or ticks. Preferred prevention measures do not include chemical spraying designed to kill mosquitoes or their larvae. Instead, emphasis should be on preventing bites through personal protection and repelling the mosquitoes.

What is the best way to prevent mosquito bites?

When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.
Be aware of peak mosquito hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many species of mosquitoes. Take extra care to use EPA-approved repellent and protective clothing during the evening and early morning. Make sure to follow the directions on the repellent label.
Be aware of mosquitoes around you. If mosquitoes are biting you, reapply repellent, or think about going inside.
Use mosquito netting on baby carriages or playpens when your baby is outdoors.
Make sure screens are repaired and are tightly attached to doors and windows.
Remove standing water from places like gutters, old tires, and wheelbarrows. Replace the water frequently in bird baths and wading pools. Mosquitoes can begin to grow in any puddle of standing water that lasts for more than four days, so don’t let water collect around your home.

This approach has the additional benefit of preventing unintended harmful consequences of chemical spraying on humans, pets, livestock, crops, insects, birds, and the entire food chain.

There are many companies that sell mosquito and tick prevention services to residents, most of which include chemical management techniques. These companies often imply that the insecticides they spray on yards are safe for everything except mosquitoes and/or ticks. However, some of these companies are also very reluctant to reveal what chemicals they use. Instead of hiring a company to spray chemicals on and around your yard, we hope you will focus on the prevention measures. Furthermore, no spraying may be performed within 100 feet of a wetland or 200 feet of a year-round flowing stream without it first being reviewed and approved by the Conservation Commission.

Algal Blooms

You may have noticed water bodies that look more like pea soup or spilled blue or green paint rather than refreshing, clear, crystal water. That’s the bad news. The good news is that you can do your part to prevent harmful algal blooms by eliminating (or at least minimizing) the use of fertilizers. These algal blooms are caused by excess nutrients that result in the rapid overgrowth of algae.

Algal blooms can impair recreation, cause foul odors, and contribute to oxygen depletion that can be harmful to fish and other aquatic life. While most types of algae are nontoxic, some types of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, have the potential to release toxins that are dangerous to humans and animals. Pets that drink from a lake during a harmful algal bloom can become very ill or even die from ingestion of toxins. These harmful algal blooms can occur at any time but occur most frequently in late summer or early fall.

Fertilize Caringly and Sparingly

Landscape practices affect the environment, especially the receiving waters. Often times lawns are over-fertilized and the excess can runoff into storm drains and end up in our receiving waters and resource areas. Lawn fertilizers that are washed off from rain increase the level of nutrients in our waterways and promote algae growth. Algae “blooms” deplete the dissolved oxygen in the water that fish need to survive.

It is possible that your soils may not require any fertilizer. A soil test is a valuable tool in assessing the nutrient needs and nutritional balance of your lawn. By determining the soil nutrient levels, and pH, soil tests allow you to determine how much fertilizer and lime to put down. Ask your lawn service about soil testing or contact the UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Lab (https://ag.umass.edu/services/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory) for testing.

When fertilizing, it is important to select one that contains the right amount of nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. An organic or slow-release fertilizer will gradually release nitrogen to plant roots. This provides a steady supply of plant nutrients over an extended period of time. Under Massachusetts Law, phosphorus-containing fertilizer may only be applied when a soil test indicates that it is needed or when turf or a lawn is being established. Ask your lawn service about using organic fertilizers or slow-release nitrogen, a low phosphorus option.

Fall fertilizing promotes deep, healthy root systems and minimizes weed and disease problems. Spring applications can actually harm lawns by promoting more blade growth than root growth, making the lawn more susceptible to drought.

Fertilizers left on sidewalks, driveways, and walkways will easily wash into storm drains. Sweeping fertilizer back onto the lawn will save you money as well as help the environment. Create fertilizer-free zones to keep fertilizer applications at least 25 feet away from the edge of open water, resource areas or storm drains.

Wild Wild West(on) – Share your Talent!

Congratulations to Larry Lawrence for capturing this beautiful fisher while walking the trails at Norumbega Reservoir last February. A fabulous sighting on a cold winter day.

And another gorgeous snap in February by Randee Cassel. Randee observed this doe “while sitting inside at my kitchen table next to the kitchen window - so through the kitchen window without even getting up! It was just after the big snow storm that came just after the February blizzard. We have a good size herd of deer that frequents our yard but this one walked right up to the edge of our patio and looked me straight in the eye for some minutes.”