Redford Cemetery Association

Summary: SPRING WORKDAYS 2007

DATE: Various Saturdays from Late April to Late May

LOCATION: Redford Cemetery

Over the course of three weekends, we successfully collected all of the sticks and other winter deadfall that needed chipping, and we cleared much of the rear fence area of overgrowth. Our main Spring Workday was held on May 5, 2007, and involved grounds upkeep work followed by a board meeting at the cemetery later in the day.

Volunteers and board members mingle before the board meeting.

The usual challenge, cutting down lots of Ailanthus, was a main focus of the day's work. Hopefully our days of fighting the "Tree of Heaven" will soon be over. As of summer 2007, it is believed that the last of the substantial specimens have been cut down and our next challenge will be to control the vigorous re-sprouting that these trees are known for, both from roots and from cut stumps. We anticipate a fair bit of work will be required over the next couple years with the clearing saw and the Garlon sprayer!

The usual suspects...

Mike sets to work dropping a twin-trunk Ailanthus along the east fenceline.

Faced up, the backcut is assessed...

And the first trunk is down!

Not long after, the second trunk meets with a similar fate.