08/16/2026
This summer, the Petrified Forest crew has started working on the removal of a few invasive species on the property. One of benefits of removing these species is that more native species will have the space & resources to thrive. More native species means more support for local wildlife and support for diverse & healthy ecosystems. Of course finding some petrified wood is always a perk too!
Before —->
After! 🙌☀️🌼👋
One of the species we are trying to target is Yellow Star Thistle. Yellow Star Thistle is toxic to some animals, steals water from native species, and each plant can produce thousands of seeds!
good riddance ✌️
Finding treasures helps make the hard work fun!
The other main invasive targets are Spanish & French Broom 🧹 There are miles of this shrub throughout the property, most likely due to surrounding fire damage because the shrub thrives in disturbed soils. It’s highly flammable and spreads aggressively, taking over landscapes and crowding out other species. 👎
There’s a long road ahead of removal and restoration but all in the name of biodiversity!
