Return of the Natives

Return of the Natives. . , The forests of Fort Harrison State Park have been invaded by Amur honeysuckle. This species was brought to the United States from Asia in the late 1800s to be used as a landscape plant. The red fruits were attractive to birds and small mammals causing the plant to quickly spread., Amur honeysuckle spread throughout the forest forming a dense shrub layer that crowded out native plants., When the first European settlers arrived in Indiana, much of the state was forest. Most of the forests were cleared for farming. Remaining forests were often invaded by plants brought overseas either accidentally or for cultivation., The Indianapolis Zoological Society and Fort Harrison State Park are working together to remove Amur honeysuckle. , If you see shrubs that look brown and wilted or cut back to stumps, you know that our efforts are succeeding. When they are gone, we will be planting native wildflowers, trees and shrubs that had been crowded out by Amur honeysuckle., Replanting the site with Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and Eastern Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), Native Wildflowers , Dutchman's Breeches , Jack-in-the-Pulpit , Trout Lily , Virginia Bluebells, Project Indiana Habitat is supported in part through an IPL Golden Eagle Grant and a grant from the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society, Photos by Ed Schools