Swallow-wort the target of volunteer effort at state park

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for volunteers to participate in a stewardship day being held at the Highland Recreation Area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 16.

Volunteers will learn how to identify and control swallow-wort as part of Highland Recreation Area’s Early Detection, Rapid Response Initiative. Volunteers will help remove seed pods, and use foliar spray on the left-behind stalks and leaves.

Swallow-wort, which is also known as dog-strangle vine, quickly grows over nearby native plants and is part of the milkweed family. It also attracts monarch butterflies to lay their eggs on its leaves, but the resulting caterpillars have a very low success rate on the swallow-wort.

Those wishing to help are asked to meet at the parking lot by the Edsel Ford barn by entering the recreation area from M-59 and heading south past the headquarters about halfway into the recreation area.