Crow’s Nest: Invisible Management

By Daniel Barringer, Preserve Manager

I tell our volunteers and staff that when we do our job well, it looks like no one was here at all. This is an area of the preserve where we have done extensive management removing invasive species and native wildflowers have filled in well.

The drying stems of Joe Pye weed frame the asters and goldenrod while alder, dogwood, and maples fill the background. I liken our work to editing (I was, after all, an English major). We remove those plants which are not consistent with our management goals, add a few others if necessary, and generally stand out of the way of nature taking its course. If we have done our jobs well our work is almost invisible.