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Native Spring Wildflowers vs Invasive Plants
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Plant Patrol organizers are leading an Indiana County Friends of the Parks program on Saturday, May 2, at 10:00 a.m. on Laurel Run Trail at Yellow Creek State Park.
We are going to show off the progress that Plant Patrol volunteers have made pulling periwinkle (Vinca) from the area, allowing native spring wildflowers to flourish. There is a dramatic difference between the areas where periwinkle is choking out all other ground cover and where Plant Patrol removed the periwinkle. These cleared areas are flush with blooming Dwarf Ginseng, Golden Ragwort, Foamflower, Canada Mayflower, Red Trillium, and Trout Lily.
Feel free to join us at the park office to celebrate with us the results of your hard work. You do not need to pre-register.
Migrating Birds, Invasive Plants, and Climate Change
Monday, March 9, 2026
Indiana County Conservation District's Lee Dunlap interviewed Plant Patrol organizer, Ed Donley, about the effects of invasive plants and climate change on migrating birds. You can listen to the interview by going to page 3 of the conservation district's March 2026 newsletter. Find the newsletter at the bottom of the conservation district's News and Events page, https://www.iccdpa.org/news-and-events.
Spring 2026 Plant Patrol Work Events
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Winter is mostly behind us and spring is arriving! It is time to focus on plants. Plant Patrol has scheduled four work events for this spring to pull invasive plants. Please join us, if you can.
Buttermilk Falls Natural Area
Sunday, March 22, 10:30 - 1:00
Blue Spruce Park
Sunday, April 12, 10:30-1:00
White's Woods Nature Center
Saturday, April 18, 10:00-12:00
Blue Spruce Park
Saturday, April 25, 10:30-1:00
View the work event descriptions at https://www.plantpatrol.org.
Plants Out of Place Webinar
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Brandywine Conservancy, near Ligonier, is hosting the webinar, "Plants Out of Place: Communicating Effectively about Invasive Plants", on Wednesday, February 18, 6:00-7:00 pm, by Dr. Mason Heberling from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
During this webinar, Dr. Heberling will share outcomes and some lessons learned in connection to the changing scientific perspectives on the categorization and perceived threats of invasive plants and highlight the need for updated, inclusive communication strategies.
As an added feature, this program will highlight these strategies, experiments, and collaborations that led to a new museum exhibition, Uprooted: Plants Out of Place. This exhibition integrates historical-scientific narratives through archival objects and museum specimens.
Register for this "pay what you wish" webinar at https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/events/plants-out-place-communicating-effectively-about-invasive-species. You can contribute toward the cost of the program or attend for free.
Picnic Reminder: Sunday, October 26, 2025, 4:00 pm
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
If you want to come to the Plant Patrol volunteers picnic at Ed Donley's property, please sign up by Thursday, October 23, so that we know how much food we will need. Get more information and sign up at https://www.plantpatrol.org/cgi-bin/picnic.pl. If you are having trouble logging in, contact Ed at hedonley2@gmail.com.
Plant Patrol Picnic: Sunday, October 26, 2025, 4:00 pm
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
We invite Plant Patrol volunteers and their guests to join us for a picnic to show our appreciation for the hard work that you have done to improve Indiana County's green spaces. Or if you have registered as a volunteer but haven't yet signed up for a work event, this is an opportunity to meet everyone.
As you would expect from Plant Patrol, we will put you to work. But this will be fun work. Instead of pulling out invasive shrubs, you will be cooking your food over a wood fire at Ed Donley's property. Bring your own food or a dish to share, if you wish.
Please sign up by Thursday, October 23, so that we know how much food we will need. Get more information and sign up at https://www.plantpatrol.org/cgi-bin/picnic.pl.
Fall 2025 Plant Patrol Events
Friday, September 5, 2025
Fall is almost here. Plant Patrol has scheduled three work events and a picnic for this fall. Please join us, if you can. Sign up for work events on the web site at https://www.plantpatrol.org so that we know how many supplies and tools to bring.
Yellow Creek State Park
Tuesday, September 11, 5:15-7:15 pm
pulling periwinkle
White's Woods Nature Center
Saturday, September 20, 10:00-12:00
pulling barberry shrubs
Yellow Creek State Park
Saturday, October 11, 10:00-12:00
pulling periwinkle
We will have a picnic for volunteers on Sunday, October 26, at 4:00 pm. More details later.
Carnegie Museum Exhibit on Invasive Plants
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Botany Hall in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has a new temporary exhibit on invasive plants, called Uprooted: Plants out of Place. The exhibit is open now.
https://carnegiemnh.org/explore/uprooted/
Upcoming Events
No future events are currently scheduled. We will post more later.
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