Progress in Eliminating Yellow Starthistle
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.
YELLOW STARTHISTLE WORK PARTY in July 2012. (Back row:) Margaret Magnus, Eric Turk, Dusttin Paren. (Front Row:) Ian Dibble, Michelle Choug, Sam Ervin, Josh McGill. Not pictured are Samantha Bridger and Leslie Bridger. (Leslie Bridger photo, 2012.)
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.
DUSTTIN PAREN arrived early and tackled the Yellow Starthistle removal with gusto. (Photo: Leslie Bridger, 2012)
MICHELLE CHOUG filled barrels with Yellow Starthistle plants. (Photo: Leslie Bridger, 2012)
IAN DIBBLE taking a just-emptied trash can back down the hill for more weed pulling of the invasive Yellow Starthistle. (Photo: Leslie Bridger, 2012)
MANAGER/CARETAKER Leslie Bridger feeling a sense of accomplishment for the day's work in removing Yellow Stathistle. (Photo: Samantha Bridger, 2012)
MARGARET MAGNUS is sitting down on the job (to avoid too much stooping) and Sam Ervin is showing the fruits of his labor in removing Yellow Starthistle. (Photo: Leslie Bridger, 2012)
ERIC TURK has filled another barrel with Yellow Starthistle plants he removed from along the Well Road. (Photo: Leslie Bridger, 2012)
TAKING A LUNCH BREAK in the Workshop out of the July sun after working all morning on removing Yellow Starthistle. (Left to right): Margaret Magnus, Dusttin Paren, Sam Ervin, Michelle Choug, Josh McGill, Ian Dibble, and Samantha Bridger. (Photo: Leslie Bridger, 2012)
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.