Jessa hacks the noxious common hawthorn / Crataegus monogyna. — Jessa hacks the noxious common hawthorn / *Crataegus monogyna*.

Hidden away behind the big box stores in Tukwila is a very large pond (a lake really) surrounded by willowy wetlands. It was improved via the mitigation process, as required in exchange for development on (poor quality) wetlands nearby. The site used to be agricultural, and indeed the old fence posts can still be seen poking out of the water. Due to development, creek out-flow was restricted and the area became permanently flooded. Now it is excellent bird habitat.

Our work with the City of Tukwila was to remove invasive noxious species from the native planting buffer. I casually mentioned to a couple of passionate children, "This tree is actually an invasive hawthorn species. It can be harder to removed trees since they're large, sometimes you can girdle them to kill them." Before I knew it they formed a team to start scraping it away and after an hour's hard work them eventually removed the tree entirely! Other species we removed were holly, ivy, blackberry & nightshade.

After working, we hiked past abandoned train tracks and through the thick willows to reach the open water. If funds could be secured, the City would like to create greater public access. Biologist Sandra Whiting pointed out wetland species along the way and shared the cultural & restoration history of the site.