Will You Find Your Inner Jane This Spring?

March 19, 2026

by Laura Woolery, CCNC volunteer

Croydon Creek Nature Center sits within Rockville Civic Center Park, along the edge of the 120-acre John G. Hayes Forest Preserve. The center is free, open to the public and features exhibits, live animal ambassadors, scenic trails, and year-round programs and events. Sign up for the nature center’s quarterly e-newsletter and stay up to date on events and programs.

It happens every year.

Near the end of winter, on a cold but sunny day, I hear the birds singing. I feel the breeze. The sun lingers a little longer in the sky, offering a hint of warmth. Suddenly, I feel energized — ready for spring.

For me, that means it’s time to reconnect with my inner Jane Goodall and put on my “weed warrior” hat. Spring is the season when many volunteers head into parks and natural areas to help remove invasive plants and give native species a chance to thrive.

My Invasive Nemesis: Garlic Mustard

One of my favorite volunteer activities each spring is helping remove garlic mustard from local parks. In Maryland, this invasive plant has spread to nearly every county.

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) was originally brought to North America from Europe for culinary and medicinal purposes. Unfortunately, it escaped cultivation and spread rapidly through forests and woodlands. With no natural predators and the ability to produce hundreds of seeds per plant, it can quickly dominate an area.

The best time to remove garlic mustard is between March and June, before it sets seed. Volunteers carefully pull the plants and bag them for proper disposal to prevent further spread.

Garlic mustard causes more harm than simply crowding out native plants. It disrupts the underground fungal networks that many native plants rely on to survive. It also closely resembles a native plant called toothwort (Cardamine diphylla), which creates problems for local wildlife.

A Butterfly Caught in an Ecological Trap

Toothwort is the host plant for the West Virginia white butterfly, a native species that has been declining in the region. The butterfly sometimes mistakes garlic mustard for toothwort and lays its eggs on the invasive plant. Unfortunately, garlic mustard is toxic to the emerging caterpillars.

This ecological trap affects butterfly populations and can ripple outward, altering forest plant communities and reducing habitat and food sources for birds and other wildlife.

Small Actions Matter

When the world feels overwhelming, it helps to focus on something tangible. Removing invasive plants may seem like a small act, but it helps restore balance to ecosystems.

Volunteering outdoors also reconnects us to the places we care about. As I pull garlic mustard from the forest floor, I imagine the soil recovering, native plants returning, and wildlife benefiting from healthier habitats.

And the best part is that anyone can help.

This region is rich in native plants, birds, butterflies, frogs, salamanders, bats and countless other species that depend on healthy ecosystems. While Maryland may not have chimpanzees, the spirit of Goodall lives wherever people choose to protect the natur al world.

Ways You Can Help

There are many ways to get involved in protecting the environment:

Become a certified Weed Warrior or join an invasive plant removal event.
Volunteer with a nature center.
Participate in stream monitoring programs.
Join FrogWatch or bird counts.
Help with stream or park cleanups
Plant native species in your yard.
Attend a class or workshop to learn more about nature.
Share what you’ve learned and inspire others.

Every small action adds up.

See you in the parks!

Learn More About Local Volunteer Opportunities

Jane Goodall is known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania and her lifelong advocacy for conservation and environmental stewardship. Learn more at janegoodall.org.