BY MAURICE NIP
GIFTED YOUTH MEMBER
JUNE 8, 2024
Today was a cloudy and foggy day—perfect for weeding at Presidio Park. When we arrived, Karen Lee and Karen Torres greeted us warmly. Karen T. showed us how to pull non-native plants, focusing on purple velvet grass (Holcus lanatus). The plant has a velvety texture and beautiful purple flowers. We learned to find the grey clumps of the plant, dig out the root, and include some soil to ensure no root fibers are left behind, preventing regrowth. Interestingly, purple velvet originated in Britain and somehow ended up in California. Daddy joked, “Just like me!”
For safety, we kept a work bubble around each other. My bubble was next to Karen T., and we spent the morning chatting, digging, and laughing. At one point, we found a ladybug, which I held in my hand before struggling to get it off. Eventually, I sent it back home on a leaf.
During our break, I enjoyed a fig bar and a madeleine with some water. After a few handshakes, the Mensans were having a great time getting to know each other. By the end of the day, we loaded Karen T’s truck full of bags of purple velvet. I joked that maybe she would ship it all back to London.
It was a short, fun, and fulfilling weeding day. I would love to do it again. The lesson of the day: Purple velvet grass contains chemicals that inhibit California native plant species and reduce the space available for other species to take up nutrients and water. To kill the grass, you must also remove the root.
Maurice, Age 6
