Camp Creek Restoration: Homeowners, Weeds and Wildflowers

Ramona discusses pole plantings with Patti Fenner from Tonto National Forest (right); Verbena (Glandularia good-dingii) is one of several species that has recolonized the area since the fire.

At the invitation of the Tonto National Forest, we have begun the early stages of a restoration project in the Camp Creek drainage, a riparian jewel north of Cave Creek, Arizona. The area was burned in the catastrophic fire of 2005, which in turn increased Vinca (Vinca major) and several other invasive species in the creek’s channels and arid slopes.

In order to remove the Vinca without increasing erosion, appropriate native ground cover will be planted in place of the infestation. Following Vinca removal, the Tucson PMC will be working with Tonto Forest, homeowners and volunteers in the area to grow and establish several thousand appropriate native plants as replacements. Seed for the plants will be collected from sources in the area.

This article is from 2007 Summer Issue of La Semilla, a Newsletter from the Tucson Plant Materials Center.