{"id":3149,"date":"2016-09-26T22:23:31","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T03:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?page_id=3149"},"modified":"2016-09-26T22:53:55","modified_gmt":"2016-09-27T03:53:55","slug":"natural-garden-on-buffalo-bayou-mowed-down","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?page_id=3149","title":{"rendered":"Natural Garden on Buffalo Bayou Mowed Down"},"content":{"rendered":"

Native Landscaping Sadly Cut By Mistake<\/h3>\n

September 26, 2016<\/p>\n

We received some upsetting news Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. The lovely garden planted by Buffalo Bayou on the banks of the outfall\/boat launch in Memorial Park at Woodway had been completely mowed down.<\/p>\n

Geologist Bill Heins sent us photographs, and the scene was ugly. We\u2019ve been following the evolution of this little patch of paradise in the middle of the city for the past two years. We\u2019ve been learning from the bayou, how it responds and repairs itself, tends to its ecosystem, and we\u2019ve done our best to explain that to others<\/a>, including our civic and political leaders. Some of these articles can also be found here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Most recently, on Sept. 20<\/a>, we wrote about the invasion of some non-native Johnsongrass that had shouldered its way in amongst the native amaranth (pigweed), smartweed, sedge, groundcherry and other plants that have such a vital natural function: stabilizing the bank, preparing the sediment for new growth, cleansing the water and providing nourishment for a variety of native birds, butterflies, and insects.<\/p>\n

We wondered about the wisdom of cutting these native plants on the eroding steep bank adjacent to Woodway. Not only had clumps of cuttings been left to wash into and pollute the bayou, but the cutting itself undermines the ability of these plants to stabilize the bank. Also it\u2019s ugly. And strangely the invasive Johnsongrass was untouched.<\/p>\n

It was ominous but park maintenance crews had never before cut the riparian plants on the lower banks. Alas, it was only a few days later that Heins visited the area and recorded the devastation.<\/p>\n

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