Invasive Species
Even in our beautiful Garden, illness exists. We have been successfully been working against a Hemlock Woolly Adelgid infestation since early 2012, we struggle from time to time with Asian Long-horned beetle, and now many of our American Beech trees are sick. Invasive plants are also a major maintenance issue at the Garden. Learn more about these forest pathogens and their treatment.
Forest Pathogens

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Beech Bark Disease
Invasive Plants
WVBG has its fair share of invasive plants that pop up throughout the growing season. Luckily, staff and volunteers have kept most invasive outbreaks under control. Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is one of the first leaves to break in spring and is therefore easier to find and dispose of before spreading. Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) and Japanese spiraea (Spiraea japonica) bloom in mid summer making them easy to identify and eradicate. Tenacious annuals like Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) have taking over many roadsides and are abundant along trail edges. WVBG and volunteers mow and weed whack stiltgrass down right before it goes to seed in August. Other plants on our watch list include garlic mustard (Alliara petiolata), crown vetch (Coronilla varia) and autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) to name a few.

Amur honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii,

Multiflora rose
Rosa multiflora

Japanese spiraea
Spiraea japonica

Japanese stiltgrass
Microstegium vimineum

Crown vetch
Coronilla varia

Garlic mustard
Alliaria petiolata

Autumn olive
Elaeagnus umbellata