Antler Swamp Restoration Project

 Dear Garden Lovers,

Just next door to the DIGS garden is a wetlands that is being restored, called "Antler Swamp". The creek that feeds it runs along the back of the Community Garden, deep in the blackberry bushes. Right now the swamp is fairly dry, but with enough winter rains, it will become lake-like, and supports wildlife, birds and an incredible number of plant species. Here it is on the map:

 It's named that because of the antler found stuck in a tree. Nancy also spotted a deer missing an antler of the same vintage a few years ago. Here are those photos!

The Restoration project was begun in 2020 and volunteers removed Himalayan Blackberry and other invasives, and cleared the way to planting species that would have flourished prior to the blackberry tangles. Here are some photos of the various plants that Nancy Turner put together in a pdf handout.

You can click on the photos to make them bigger. One of the things that was noticeable from the aerial views is just how much space is taken up by Himalayan Blackberry to the left of Joyce's Greenhouse. This area might be useful for future greenhouse structures, or storage, or compost making activities if cleared.

The City Parks Dept. has been making suggestions as to how best use our boundaries, so we're all looking forward to that. Meanwhile many thanks to the volunteers saving Antler Swamp. What a fabulous project!