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Environment:
Weed Patrol
Much of Tennessee’s landscape is under attack and
it is up to our kids to save it! Non-native plant
species introduced as ornamental plants and hedges
in gardens and back yards across the city can enter
a natural area and take over. Since plants compete
for the same resources - sun, soil and water - the
invasive species tend to have advantages that crowd
out the less aggressive, native plants.
Tennessee has many plant species native to our
area, including (but not limited to): wild azaleas,
wild hydrangeas, flowering dogwoods, coreopsis, wild
geraniums and red maple trees. One of the most
obvious examples of a non-native species invading
Tennessee is kudzu.
Weed Patrol helps teach your kids about the
natural balance of ecosystems and then encourages
them to put this knowledge to use as they become
mini-naturalists.
Project Ideas:
1. Contact one of the Potential Partner Agencies
and set up a time to take your class on an Invasive
Species Removal fieldtrip.
2. Did you know that some of our most harmful
non-native plants have funny names? Asian
Spiderwort? Parrot’s Feather?! Wild Carrot! Have
each student (or pairs of students) pick a name they
think is fun from the “Invasive Exotic Plant List”
off of Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council’s website
(the list is provided in this packet). Have the
student research the plant’s origins, what type of
environment it thrives in and why it might be
harmful to Tennessee’s landscape. After all the
research is complete, compile the work, bind it and
keep it in the library so that others can learn
about some of the downsides of our non-native
inhabitants
3. Tennessee has resident experts on invasive
species that are willing to come talk to your class.
Invite a Tennessee Master Gardener to come for a
discussion of non-native species invasion. Have them
take your class on a walk through around the grounds
of your school and see if they can help your kids
identify non-native plants.
Potential Partner Agencies:
Friends of Warner Parks
Warner Parks Nature Center
Radnor Lake
Tennessee Master Gardeners Association
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