On Saturday May 27th, Save Our Canyons partnered with the Salt Lake Ranger District and Cottonwood Canyons Foundation to help pull the invasive species, Money Plant, from a new segment of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The segment is yet to be available for public access but is estimated to open soon. This section will connect Big Cottonwood Canyon and Ferguson Canyon.
The Money Plant (Lunaria Annua) is a flowering plant that produces white and sometimes purple flowers. It can be identified before flowering by its serrated upper leaves and small round under leaves.
It is guessed that the plant has grown exponentially in this area due to its use in gardens and yards below the trail. Its origin is in southern Europe and is beautiful. However, it reduces the availability of native Utah species to thrive, leading to fewer species growing in their natural habitat.
Overall this project was a success. Six volunteers from the community attended, along with quite a few people at both organizations. The plant matter we removed weighed in at two hundred and sixty pounds at the end of the day!
We would like to thank our partners at the Salt Lake Ranger District and the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation for their project management and for educating the group on this issue!
