Just as a garden needs careful tending, so do our parks. The fight against invasive plants is long, but dedicated volunteers across Yolo County work hard to restore its beauty, one plant at a time. Woodland Regional Park Preserve, once an underutilized landscape, is becoming a thriving ecological and educational resource, a transformation I’ve seen firsthand as a Tuleyome Horticulture Intern.

Invasive plant management isn’t just about pulling weeds; it’s about timing, strategy, and community. Over the past two seasons, I have spent numerous hours in the field, learning about how different invasive plants take over ecosystems and how to effectively combat them.

But just as important as the work itself has been the people I’ve worked alongside: students, early-career professionals, and retirees who have dedicated their weekends to sharing stories, coming together, and giving back to the land.

Armed with a weedwhacker, hand tools, and sturdy gloves, the Weed Management Team tackled over ten invasive plant species across the Woodland Regional Park Preserve throughout the fall and spring weed seasons. As summer faded into fall, our primary focus shifted to stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens), a fast-spreading invasive plant that had infested the preserve, even thriving in disturbed areas and quickly outcompeting native vegetation. Its resinous, sticky, and scented leaves deter herbivores, so managing it meant hand-pulling as much as possible before it could go to seed and spread thousands of new seeds across the preserve.

As the seasons shift, so do the weeds. With stinkwort dying off in the winter and our efforts focused on removing as much as possible throughout the fall, milk thistle (Silybum marianum) became our next major challenge at the park. Unlike stinkwort, which thrives in dry, late-season conditions, milk thistle takes advantage of the cooler months, growing in dense, spiny patches by spring. Its sharp spines make manual removal difficult, while its prolific seed bank and deep taproots allow it to reinfest areas even after previous removals.

Every invasive plant presents its own set of challenges, but through hands-on experience, I have gained an appreciation for the complexity of plant management and the patience required to make a meaningful impact. With each handful of uprooted plants, stories are exchanged, and something about pulling weeds invites conversation on the tales of where we’ve been and where we’re going. Some volunteers have spent years working in the environmental sector, while others come for the first time, quickly falling into the rhythm of the work. In these moments, restoration is as much about community as it is about the land.

Lead volunteer and mentor Jennifer Hogan has consistently spent the past five years managing invasive plants throughout the preserve. As a longtime native plant enthusiast, Hogan’s involvement began with a search for the park’s six federally and state-protected plant species. Finding the home of these rare and endangered plants, which “had been encroached upon by invasive species,” sparked her commitment to take action. What started as a few friends pulling weeds to protect these plants evolved into a year-round effort. She began paying attention to the flowering cycles of different invasive species and developed a seasonal strategy, much like the one used to remove stinkwort in the fall and milk thistle in early spring.

Hogan’s work is personal, but she quickly emphasizes that it’s not something she can do alone. “It takes the group, the whole group, to make it happen,” she said. Her dedication has shaped the park’s community, inspiring volunteers from all backgrounds to contribute their time and energy to the preserve.

In the world of conservation and restoration, the work is never truly finished. Whether you’re a student, a community member, or someone who loves the land, there will always be a place for you at the Woodland Regional Park Preserve.