Progress in Eliminating Yellow Starthistle
Margaret Magnus
By Margaret Magnus
Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solsitialis), is an invasive, noxious weed found in range lands, some wild lands, and along roadsides and walking trails.
There are an estimated 19,761,201 acres of Yellow Starthistle in the US. Some of that acreage includes Meher Mount.
Starthistle Chokes Out Native Plants
Yellow Starthistle poses a serious threat due to its ability to spread easily. It forms smothering infestations and reduces the production of other native species.
Meher Mount is engaged in a multi-year program to eliminate Starthistle from accessible areas on the property.
Work Parties Make Progress
In July and August 2012, three work parties braved the heat and sun to manually pull hundreds of Starthistle plants.
Thank you to: Eric Turk, Ian Dibble, Michelle Chough, Josh McGill, Sam Ervin, Ron Holsey, Dusttin Paren, and Margaret Magnus.
Thank you to Manager/Caretakers Samantha and Leslie Bridger and their daughter Rebecca for their ongoing and sometimes daily efforts to remove Starthistle.
The work continues.
Status Report - 2015
When Leslie Bridger proposed that the Meher Mount Board tackle the problem of Yellow Starthistle, he indicated it would be a multi-year project.
In 2013, Leslie, Samantha and Rebecca Bridger with help from Eric Turk continued to physically pull Yellow Starthistle plants along the Well Road and in the meadow to Baba's Tree.
In addition, the Landscape Committee chaired by Ron Holsey recommended hiring a professional firm to spray the remaining plants.
With continued vigilance and manual pulling of any remaining plants, Yellow Starthistle is rarely seen along the Well Road or in the meadow to Baba's Tree.