Community Stewardship Program - City of Toronto Urban Forestry Personal Journal

My journal of education/training, invasive species removal (weeding), planting, and other activities while volunteering with Community Stewardship Program – City of Toronto

Riverdale Park East 2025

Invasive species on site, identification and removal tips

Bedstraw - sticky
Dog strangling vine (DSV) - expanding vine
Phragmites aka European fern - thin stem, long leaves, remove using spading under roots at 45 degree angle
Garlic mustard - red stem, smells like garlic, leafy
Cat tail
Norway maple
Siberia squill - blue flower
Red dead nettle - pinkish flower
Buckthorn
Burdock - burs that needs to be removed, thick stem requiring excavator to removed
Canada Thistle - it is from Europe despite its name, sharp leaves and stems
Burdock - has burrs, seeds
Queen Anne’s Lace aka wild carrot
- Has braks, sticky seeds
Erect hedge parsley
Tansy - frilly leaves, yellow flowers

Removal of plants with seeds: before removal, cut off seeds and dispose of separately in bucket / garbage bags. Other parts of invasive species can be composted.

2025-06/07

Planting of native plants

“Catepillar count” - assessment of insect, arthopod life in environment to check health of area

Removal of phragmites, Canada thistle, burdock, Queen Anne’s Lace, Erect hedge parsley, tansy

2025-05

Removal of garlic mustard, bed straw, red dead nettle

2025-04 Orientation

Warnings on dangers on site: fire ants (lemon smell), ticks, plants with thorns, poison ivy, as well as weather like heat

Site history: former waste site, flood plain, program has work on forested areas and planting

Riverdale Part East 2019

Weeding and education on variety of plants:

Bedstraw
Dog strangling vine
Phragmites
- Usually grows near water
Garlic mustard
Japanese Knotweed
European buckthorn
Norway maple