No. We're not honoring this pernicious plant. We're digging in and digging up to resist an alien invader. Alliaria petiolata is taking over the forest understory all across the northern U.S. and Canada. Garlic mustard is an import from Europe and has no specialized enemies on this side of the Atlantic. It is one of the first herbaceous plants to appear in the spring and threatens to overwhelm our native spring wildflowers. It's time to fight back!

Eradication of this pest is not easy. Herbicides work but they also kill the native plants we're trying to encourage. Pulling by hand is the only alternative. It's hard work and there's no guarantee of ultimate success but the alternative is too unpleasant to contemplate. The plants are distinctive and fairly easy to uproot but they produce so many seeds that even if every plant in an area is removed there will still be seeds in the ground to produce a new crop the following year. It takes several years of dedicated effort to deplete the seed bank. Can it be done in the Arboretum? With enough volunteers we can make a start.

Garlic mustard day has been set for Saturday, May 7th. Volunteers need no special skills. There will be lots of kneeling and a slight possibility of poison ivy so long pants are recommended. Tight gloves can work but it's probably easier to get a grip on the plants with bare hands. Trowels are generally not required. Check this website for more information on participation in Garlic Mustard Day. For more information on garlic mustard, go to: http://www.ipm.msu.edu/garlicmustard.htm