Gorge Stewards Quarterly — Winter 2006

In this issue

• The menace of buckthorn
• Native shrubs adorn popular pathway
• Bridge Over Troubled Water performances by U of M students
• Gorge Stewards holiday potluck

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The Menace of Buckthorn

Down the bank on the Winchell Trail in Seward Neighborhood, some intimidating visitors stand sentry amidst the leaf litter and barren trees overlooking the Mississippi River. A temporary public art installation created by sculptor Jim Proctor and funded by FORECAST Public Artworks, The Buckthorn Menace consists of more than a dozen sculptures resembling giant alien dandelions in seed. The sculptures are crafted entirely from buckthorn removed from parkland, much of it from the gorge. The sculpture ‘heads are formed by inserting the root balls of seedlings into spheres of buckthorn wood that has been turned on a lathe. These heads are then mounted onto existing buckthorn tree trunks that have been cleared of branches.

Non-native invasive plants are a threat to the native forest and other plant and animal communities in the gorge. Many of these invasives came through global trade in the last few centuries and many more will come in the next. Can these invasions be stopped, or even slowed? Do many of us even see what is happening? asks creator Proctor. The sculptures serve to help us visualize how dramatic the problem is, and what we stand to lose when our native landscape is altered beyond recognition.

The sculptures will be left in place for one year, and taken down next fall during a buckthorn removal event. The trunks on which the orbs are mounted will be cut down and treated so none of the buckthorn materials used in the sculptures will be able to propagate.

With continued neighborhood commitment to eliminating buckthorn and other invasives, this area will once again be able to sustain a healthy and diverse native plant community: to become involved in the ongoing protection and restoration of habitat at this site and others in the gorge, contact sue at Friends of the Mississippi River at 651-222-2193 x14 or through our contact form.

About the artist: Born in Ohio, Jim Proctor studied art and religion at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He has received the Blacklock Nature Sanctuary fellowship, the Jerome travel and study grant, and the Minnesota State Arts Board fellowship. In 2000, The Star Tribune called him the most original sculptor to appear in these parts in a long while. To view more artwork and to contact the artist, visit www.mnartists.org/Jim_Proctor.

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Native shrubs adorn popular pathway

The pedestrian and biking trails adjacent to West River Parkway are some of the most heavily used in the Minneapolis Park system. Neighbors venture out on bikes, skates, or on foot with their pets in large numbers each day.

In October, Gorge Stewards added some native shrubs to an area near the popular path between 36th and 37th Streets recently cleared of the invasive buckthorn and some aggressive vine ground cover. Foray leaders and park staff cleared the area that was on its way to becoming a buckthorn thicket, and 15 Gorge Stewards joined forces to plant, mulch, and water 20 woody plants native to the area: American hazelnut, smooth wild rose, pagoda dogwood, chokecherry, red-berried elder, and prickly gooseberry.

The specimens were a bit spindly and bereft of leaves at the time of planting in October, but many of these native species will reward us with a spring display of blooms and a fall exhibition of richly-colored berries that are a winter foodsource for wildlife. In an urban yard, mature shrubs can also provide privacy and increased energy efficiency when planted on the northwest side of your property.

Consider Minnesota native shrubs in your own residential landscape:

• Outback Nursery
• Native Trees and Shrubs list at the Minnesota DNR Web Site
• Friends of the Parks Guide to Native Shrub Alternatives

Gorge Stewards native shrub favorites

Red-twigged dogwood (Cornus sericea)

I like the winter color of Red-osier dogwood. Its a sign of life in the drab winter landscape. — Kate

American cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)

I think horticulturist Michael Dirr said it best: ‘A garden without a viburnum is akin to life without music and art. — Ann

Musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana)

The trunk of this large shrub looks like muscle-y limbs. Plus it has great fall color! — Grace

This restoration project was funded by Friends of the Mississippi River through the Metro Wildlife Corridors project (MWC). Funding for MWC was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources.

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Bridge Over Troubled Water performances by U of M students

Nearly fifty students participated in Bridge Over Troubled Water, a culminating project for Mark Pedeltys Identity, Culture and Community in the Performing Arts class at the University of Minnesota.

With the Mississippi River Gorge literally as a backdrop, students performed for pedestrians crossing the Washington Avenue Bridge on campus a variety of poems, songs, and dances with messages about environmental and social change. Poems by Langston Hughes, Sara Teasdale, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and others were dramatically interpreted.

Dinkytown resident and witness to the performance Ardes Johnson said, The Mississippi River is obviously an incredible feature of the University and the rest of the neighborhood. Its our connection to the rest of the world.

Professor Pedelty wanted to educate students about river-related issues and used theatre as the vehicle. He chose the Mississippi River as a central theme for the class because of its connective elements — the river connects the University to different communities both literally and metaphorically. Science can only do so much, he said. Theater and art can help scientists get their message out there. The Gorge Stewards project expanded to include the West Bank in 2005, so FMR staff made educational presentations to Pedeltys students about urban runoff, stormwater management, and practices that make a limited environmental impact on our waterways.

In addition to using the performance to replace a final for the class, Pedelty used the event to raise money for the Friends of the Mississippi River. Thanks to all who performed or contributed!

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Gorge Stewards holiday potluck

Gorge Stewards gathered for a potluck in December to celebrate a successful year of stewardship. Volunteers who worked a restoration event in 2005 shared in nut loaf, potato kale au gratin, spinach lasagne, blueberry pie and other dinner delights.

In 2005 Gorge Stewards removed a record number of buckthorn shrubs; uprooted a previously unsurpassed number of garlic mustard plants; and got dirty hand weeding restoration sites, collecting seeds from prairie plants, and picking up litter. All told in 2005, 764 restoration volunteers worked 2179 hours in the gorge.

Get involved in river protection efforts as a Gorge Steward (and get invited to next years potluck!) by contacting sue rich at Friends of the Mississippi River at 651/222-2193 x14 or through our contact form.