A small but mighty group of Habitat Heroes came out this past weekend to help remove invasive plants at Wavecrest Open Space, and we lucked out with beautiful Saturday morning weather. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers Julie, Vicky, Sophia O., Stella, Rhonda, Scott, Sophia H., and Carol—along with Coastside Land Trust Stewardship Committee members Barbara L. and Robin, and our fearless leader, Sara P.—we made tremendous progress clearing a large area near the eucalyptus grove on CLT’s 50-acre Wavecrest property.

The crew working on weeding out teasel and bristly ox-tongue from the rushes. *Photo credit: Sara Polgar*

Together, volunteers tackled several key invasive weeds, including bristly ox-tongue, teasel, and poison hemlock. Like many invasive plants, these species spread aggressively and crowd out native coastal prairie plants. By removing them early in the growing season (before they flower and produce seeds) we help give native species like blue-eyed grass, soap plant, Douglas’ iris, and rushes a better chance to thrive. These native plants are essential for supporting the insects, birds, and other wildlife that depend on healthy coastal habitats.

A bouquet of aromatic eucalyptus! *Photo credit: Sara Polgar*

The timing of this work couldn’t have been better - with weeds just emerging, and the ground soft enough for effective digging and pulling. Thanks to the energy and teamwork of our volunteers, a significant stretch of prairie is now better positioned for a strong growing season.

Admiring an unusual bristly ox-tongue. *Photo Credit: Sara Polgar*

These hands-on workdays are critical for the care of our fragile coastal habitats. They are also an opportunity for learning together, and building a community of people committed to the long-term health of our shared open space lands.

The next Habitat Heroes Workday will take place on March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at CLT's Purisima Old Town Site property (affectionately known as "POTS"), and we look forward to welcoming both returning and new volunteers. If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to sara@coastsidelandtrust.org for more details.