Dandelions and other weeds.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Leave your garden to its own devices and remove invasive plants from parks around the Lower Mainland, including Burnaby Lake, Mundy Park and Tynehead Regional Park.
At Deer Lake, Policeman's Helmet is top of the Most Wanted list, with each plant producing up to 800 seeds, and beating out native species for light, water and food. The same holds true at Tynehead Park in North Surrey, where English Ivy also chokes out the competition – and can reportedly kill a mature tree in less than 10 years.
Most meet-ups come with gloves and tools, as well as post-removal picnics and walks in the park; just make sure to wear sturdy outdoor shoes or boots, and clothes that can take a beating – because those weeds aren't going down without a fight.
Invasive species removals are happening at Coquitlam's Mundy Park Saturday and Deer Lake Park in Burnaby Sunday, and at Tynehead Regional Park Saturday.