Pepper "Busting" 2012 Begins

It is that time of year. If Cedar Key is to keep it`s lovely native vegetation, we`ve got to keep fighting the invasive Brazilian Pepper trees. The kick off of the Brazilian Pepper (BP) season will be on Friday, January 6th, 10:00 AM, behind the Cedar Key State Museum.

Healthy, able bodied volunteers are needed to identify and erradicate this noxious plant on Cedar Key. Work sessions will be held each Friday at 10:00 AM until noon, weather permitting. Training and equipment is provided. Workers need to wear long pants, long sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes. Small plants are pulled by hand and larger plants are treated with a basal bark application of an approved herbicide. Help save Cedar Key`s environment, become a Pepper Buster.

JUST SAY NO
TO THE PEPPER

Land owners are urged to eliminate BP from their own property. Cutting the plants back to the ground will NOT kill them, rather they re-grow forming multiple trunks. Trees can grow 20-30 feet tall forming a wide canopy that shades out slower growing native plants. Mature female plants, produce seeds that are scattered by wind, water and birds to form thousands of new plants.
Cedar Key`s Garden Club provides funds and leadership for this important project which began in 1998. The City of Cedar Key, University of Florida, Highway Department, Department of Enviromental Protection, Lower Suwannee Refuge and Suwannee River Water Managemet have all been supportive of this work.

For more information call 543-6007.