Woods Keeper at
Deepdene Park
Deepdene Park Update 08/31/26
It’s been a very hot but very rewarding summer in Deepdene Park! It certainly helps that we have the benefit of this majestic canopy to keep us cool. Spicebush berries are ripening a brilliant red, Joe Pye is blooming a perfect pink, and invasive autumn clematis is announcing its presence with showy white flowers. Also white, but very tiny, are the flowers of native jumpseed - not to be confused with native lopseed whose seed spikes look strikingly like those of invasive chaff flower.
Woods Keeper teams have been hard at work building on last year’s progress against invasive annuals like stiltgrass, beefsteak plant, mulberry weed, dayflower, and more. We’re happy to report overall numbers of these summer growers are way down this year compared to last. Also way down is the invasive chaff flower population! While some small pockets still persist, we’ve made huge strides in keeping this plant out of the trail corridor where the extremely viable seeds can stick to walkers and pets.
All of this progress is a result of diligent work by OLPA Staff, Birds GA habitat crew, and the Woods Keeper team. None of this work is possible without Olmsted Linear Park Alliance and their supporters who have been stewarding this special forest for decades.
Overview:
Partnering with Olmsted Linear Park Alliance, Birds Georgia, and core volunteers, Woods Keeper joined the restoration efforts in the Summer of 2024.
Thanks to previous efforts by so many before us, much of the forest is in superb condition. However some areas are congested with evergreen invasive plants such as privet, horned holly, mahonia, elaeagnus, and more. Our goal is to suppress and remove those invasive plants to make room for more native plant biodiversity. Determining priorities is a collaborative process between OLPA and its partners.
Deepdene Park is just 1 of 6 segments that make up Atlanta Olmsted Linear Park. Unlike the 5 pastoral segments, it is a 22-acre wooded tract whose shade provides opportunity for many invasive plants to thrive. Stiltgrass and chaff flower are two of the more difficult invasive plants to control although its a challenge to which are are committed.
For more about Olmsted Linear Park visit altantaolmstedpark.org
