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EVENTS

SPRING VOLUNTEER EVENTS!

Volunteer to help manage buckthorn and garlic mustard in our parks this spring. Please click on this link to register for any or all of these upcoming events.
Past Events
PARK
DATE
TIME
EVENT
Meadow Park South
Saturday, April 1st
9 am - 11:30 am
Buckthorn
Big Willow 
Saturday, April 8th
1 pm - 3:30 pm
Buckthorn
Purgatory
Wednesday, April 12th
1:30 - 3 pm
Buckthorn
Shady Oak Isthmus
Saturday, April 15th
9 - 11 am
Buckthorn
Meadow Park North
Sunday, April 16th
10 am - 12 pm
Buckthorn
Purgatory
Wednesday, April 26th
1:30 - 3 pm
Buckthorn
Lone Lake
Saturday, April 29th
12 pm - 3 pm
Buckthorn
Hilloway
Saturday, May 6th
9 am - 11:30 am
Garlic Mustard
Purgatory
Sunday, May 7th
10 am - 12:30 pm
Garlic Mustard
Victoria-Evergreen
Wednesday, May 10th
4 pm - 6 pm
Garlic Mustard
Meadow Park South
Saturday, May 13th
8:30 am - 10:30 am
Garlic Mustard
Meadow Park North
Saturday, May 20th
9 am - 11:30 am
Garlic Mustard
Lone Lake
Sunday, May 21st
12 pm - 3 pm
Garlic Mustard
Cullen Nature Preserve
Saturday, May 27th
9 am - 11 am
Garlic Mustard
Hilloway
Saturday, June 3rd
9 am - 12 pm
Garlic Mustard
Big Willow
Sunday, June 4th
9 am - 12 pm
Garlic Mustard
European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
European buckthorn occurs in upland, shaded, and high-nutrient sites. European buckthorn is the most prevalent invasive plant in Minnetonka's parks and has invaded much of the degraded or altered savannas, thriving in the low-light conditions created by the growth of undersirable native trees (box elder, elm, ash).

European buckthorn is a decidous shrub/small tree that can grow 25-feet tall. Mature buckthorn bark and leaves can easily be mistaken for black cherry (Prunus serotina) and wild plum (Prunus americana). The female plants produce flowers that when fertilized, transform into green fruit that matures to dark blue-black color. For more information on how to identify European buckthorn, see photo captions below. MN DNR information
Buckthorn leaves are oval, dark green and remain green late into the fall after native decidous tree and shrub leaves change color and drop their leaves. The edges of the leaves are serrated and the veins curve pointing toward the leaf tip.
Branch with leaves
European buckthorn flowers in spring. The lime green/yellow flowers have four petals that are arranged in clusters at the base of the leaf stems (petioles).
Fruit (female plants)
Bark of mature Buckthorn. Native look-alike: black cherry (Prunus serotina).
Variation of bud arrangement (opposite, sub-opposite, alternate). Hoof-like terminal buds.
Close up of bud (dark brown) and hoof-like double terminal buds
Cut buckthorn stumps not treated with herbicide will vigorously grow new sprouts.
The fruit, consumed by birds, is spread to new sites.
Mature tree form
Watch these short videos to learn how to identify and control garlic mustard
© 2023 Friends of Minnetonka Parks.
​Friends of Minnetonka Parks is a 501c3 nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors.
  • Home
  • Mission
  • VISIT A PARK
    • Big Willow
    • Cullen
    • Hilloway
    • Jidana
    • Lake Rose
    • Lone Lake
    • Meadow
    • Minnehaha Creek
    • Purgatory
    • Shady Oak
    • Tower Hill
    • Victoria Evergreen
  • Events
  • Connect