Lehigh Crossing Park Work Party

Last week we continued work close to the creek just past the boardwalk primarily removing some non-native honeysuckle. More resurgent phragmites are beginning to show. Depending on who we have for volunteers, we may work across the creek to knock down old phragmite stalks, as well as continue cutting back honeysuckle and autumn olive along the trail. Heavy rain will cancel, although we usually dress properly and move through light showers.
Please wear sturdy, waterproof footwear, bring work gloves, insect repellent (ticks may be active), and water to drink. Your favorite loppers or pruners would be helpful, or hand saws. I will bring extra loppers, rakes, a few tools to perhaps remove some small stumps.

1. Photo is of a native bee house made by one of our volunteers (Mimi) from the empty stalks of phragmites. There are 400 species of native bee in NY. About 30% of those are cavity dwelling bees. Most are solitary, docile and need stalks of plants to provide a place to lay their eggs. Depending on the species, they may live for only 6-8 weeks, with a life full of partitioning off a chamber in a hollow stalk, or maybe a hole left in wood by a beetle, in which to lay eggs, and gathering pollen to leave with each egg to sustain them when they hatch. They play a very important role in our local ecosystems.