From 2003-2014, The Akron Garden Club worked to eradicate invasive species in two areas of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This was the first Garden Club of America Partners for Plants project funded for invasive plant removal on public lands and received more than $30,000 in support. Elimination of invasives was so successful that the effort transitioned to propagation and repopulation of native species.

Volunteers collected seeds from native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering plants within the park’s 33,000 acres.

 Partners for Plants funding also underwrote a 640-square-foot hoop house, fenced from deer, wooden frames for direct sticking of hardwood cuttings and supplies such as containers and soil mix.

Photo credit: Dedee O’Neil/Akron Garden Club