Winning the Battle Against Invasive Plants

April 18, 2026 - 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Some weeds are more than just garden nuisances — they’re aggressive, non-native plants that crowd out native species, disrupt ecosystems, and reshape the landscapes around us.

The good news? Once you know what to look for, you can make a real difference.

Join us for an engaging, hands-on workshop designed to help you recognize common invasive plants in our region and learn practical, effective ways to manage them. The program begins indoors with an informative talk exploring:

* What invasive plants are — and how they spread
* Why they pose a problem for local ecosystems
* How removing invasives helps native plants, pollinators, and wildlife thrive
* Safe and realistic strategies for control and removal

Then we’ll head outdoors to put knowledge into practice! Participants will walk the property to identify invasive species in real settings and learn about hands-on techniques and tools for removal and management that you can use at home. All participants will receive a guide to our area's worst offenders.

This program will be led by Alice Ely, UConn Advanced Master Gardener, and Sarah Hutchison, founder of the Weston Pollinator Pathway and the Pulling Together initiative, which collectively has dedicated over 1700 volunteer hours to invasives removal in Weston.

This is a great opportunity for gardeners, homeowners nature lovers, and any interested in learning to be a better land steward. This program is offered to the community free of charge, but registration is required for planning purposes. We hope you'll join us to learn small steps that make a big ecological impact.

Instructor: Alice Ely and Sarah Hutchison