Sun, Sep 6 2020 - Leisurely Sunday evening Exploration of Frazier-Rowe Park & Briarlake Forest (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham Participants: Charlie Cottingham, Martha, Christa, Jonny, Katja, Virginia F, Gary 'L', Robert, Paul Knowlton, Amy Knowlton, Luz Maria

We had a fine time together on this adventurous "Double-Header Labor Day Eve" hike and were thankful to have fantastic fall-like weather with low humidity and a clear blue sky.  After exploring Frazier-Rowe Park and its adjoining Coralwood Nature Preserve we enjoyed an additional hour at nearby Briarlake Forest.  Had no problem "social-distancing" and along the way stopped occasionally to discuss the beautiful native flora & fauna and also the various invasive non-native vines and shrubs.  "Friends of the Parks" volunteer groups are doing a good job controlling the most aggressive "foreign intruders,"  esp. English ivy, Chinese privet and Japanese kudzu & thorny olive (a.k.a. elaeagnus).  In a remote corner of Briarlake Forest it was good to see several recently planted American Chestnut tree hybrid seedlings surviving the unusually wet summer weather.  They're resistant to the historic "blight" that killed millions of our huge chestnuts in the early 1900s.
  It was fun having three brand new AOC members with us: Katje, Paul and Amy! - Submitted by Charlie on Monday, Labor Day 2020