Through active volunteerism and support of the community, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy dedicates a pillar of its operations to invasive species management.
While some may look unassuming amongst our park foliage, the presence of invasive species chokes out our native plants and blights our beautiful historical landscapes.
Common invasive plant species that the BOPC is working hard to remove include Japanese Knotweed, Buckthorn, Phragmites and more. These interlopers aren’t just making themselves at home in our parks, but we can also see their impact in our own private yards too.
We are pleased to share that the month of June will be dedicated to the fight against invasive plant species. Learn how to get involved below!
Invasive Species Month is presented by:
Floral Papermaking Workshop with Artist with Janna Willoughby-Lohr of PaperCraft Miracles
Sunday, July 21, 2024 | 10am – 4pm
Invasive daylilies will be removed from the parks for artist Janna Willoughby-Lohr of Papercraft Miracles to transform it into paper for a workshop at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Monument Plaza during the East Side Garden Walk.
Participants will learn about the papermaking process and will be able to form sheets of handmade paper that will be pressed and dried at the Papercraft Miracles studio. Finished papers will be available to participants to pick up at the studio or can be mailed out afterwards.
FREE and open to the public at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at Best Street and Fillmore Ave. See Google Map Pin here.
Special Thanks to community partner
Learn more about East Side Garden Walk
Invasive Species Walks and Talks with Kristie Munson
June 29, August 31 and September 28, 2024 | 10am – Noon
Grab a cup of your favorite coffee or tea on a Saturday morning and enjoy an Invasive Species Walking Tour with Workforce Development and Education Manager Kristie Munson. This tour will outline what invasive species are present in the parks and teach guests how the BOPC is removing them through clean-ups, plantings, and more. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended. FREE and open to the public, registration required.
The Caz Park tour meets at the front of the Caz Casino; the Delaware Park tour meets at the top of the Grand Staircase; the South Park tour meets at the area across from the South Park Golf Course Clubhouse.
Invasive Species Walks and Talks are made possible by
Tickets - June 29 @ Cazenovia Park
Tickets - Aug 31 @ Delaware Park
Tickets - Sep 28 @ South Park
Volunteer!
Volunteer opportunities are available all year round
Invasive species management requires ongoing attention and resources, which could not be possible without the dedicated group of volunteers called ISET (Invasive Species Eradication Taskforce). Come join this incredible group of individuals who collect biodiversity data to establish a baseline for what invasive species are present in our parks system. For more information on how to join, please contact Kristie Munson at kristie@bfloparks.org.
Other ways to volunteer include group clean-ups, plantings, mulchings, and more. Check out these opportunities here!
Learn about volunteer opportunities
Cocktails for a Cause at The Terrace at Delaware Park
Throughout the month of June
The Terrace at Delaware Park June’s Cocktail for a Cause features the “FLOmingo Dancer” a refreshing summer spritzer made with vodka, watermelon, cucumber, St. Germaine & seltzer. $4 from each libation benefits BOPC throughout the month of June.
Special Thanks to partner
Visit The Terrace's website for hours
Past events and programs
Enjoy the goats with Lets Goat Buffalo
June 16 – 29, 2024 | Dawn to Dusk
After a 5-year hiatus, the Chew Crew returns to Cazenovia Park to change the landscape, one bite at a time. The herd will graze the park daily to eat away at invasive plant species, managing the vegetation growth in an environmentally sound manner. Come experience the spectacle from dawn to dusk!
Photographs are permitted, but please keep a safe distance between yourself and the goats who are working hard to remove the invasive plant species. Special Thanks to our community partner Lets Goat Buffalo.
Goat security is made possible by
Foraged Ink Workshop with artist Tatiana Ryckman at The Tool Library
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 | 5:30pm – 7:30 pm
Learn how to create fun and vibrant works-on-paper with invasive plant species. Artist Tatiana Ryckman will use berries and stripped bark from buckthorn, an invasive species from the Buffalo Olmsted Park System, to demonstrate how one can create ink. While creating your artwork, Kristie Munson of the BOPC will highlight the ongoing invasive species management efforts throughout the park system, and how everyone can make a difference removing them in the parks and in their own green spaces. Darren Cotton of The Tool Library will share the tools available in their inventory to empower all to take the next step in invasive species management.
$5 Tool Library Members / $10 Non-Members. Limited spots available, which will be filled quickly.
Special Thanks to community partner
Purchase tickets here
For questions, inquiries or to request for accommodations, please reach out to:
Zhi Ting Phua, Director of Engagement and Inclusion | (716) 838-1249, ext. 31 | community@bfloparks.org
