The monarch butterflies are migrating... and the black swallow-wort is surging!

Black swallow-wort (BSW) is an invasive plant species that spreads by seeds and roots, crowding out native plants, and it's a population sink for monarch butterflies. Monarch butterflies are attracted to BSW because of its similarity to milkweed. They will lay their eggs on it, but the larvae cannot survive on BSW, thus ending their lifecycle.

Come join a few folks in this pop-up event to tackle the huge increase in BSW we're seeing on the southeast side of the Greenway, across from the Pollinator Garden. We will be working close to the ground, gently teasing out the plants with as many roots as possible (so the recent rains are a benefit for this work!). We strongly recommend wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts for this work, as we have seen occasional poison ivy in this area.

Details:

* Starting point is on the Greenway, across from the Pollinator Garden, near where Wheeler Court ends at the Greenway, and roughly half-way between the bench behind the Watertown Mall and the trail intersection with Arlington St. and Nichols Ave.

* If you're driving, there's parking nearby behind the Watertown Mall or at the end of Arsenal Way.

* Please bring: drinking water, garden gloves, and clippers and weeding knife if you have them. A kneeling pad or similar foam pad can be helpful. We will provide trash bags, and extra gardening gloves and other tools.

* Please wear long pants and closed toe/sturdy footwear. For this work session, at this time of year, we also recommend a hat and long-sleeved shirt.

* All participants who have not yet signed a waiver for 2025 will be asked to sign a waiver upon arrival.  Any participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, or bring a waiver signed by a parent or guardian in advance.

Questions? Contact Watertown Community Gardens at info@watertowngardens.org