Question: Recently several areas on Tates Creek Road have been cleared of trees, brush, etc. It now provides a beautiful view of the stream and plantings. Can we expect to see more areas cleaned up and beautified?

Answer: In April, 2007, we had an article in the Herald-Leader about the clean up along Tates Creek Road:

After about two months of work cleaning up the medians on Tates Creek, crews from the Division of Streets, Roads and Forestry began planting 22 trees. When the project is finished, more than 130 trees will have been planted in the median.

The existing bush honeysuckle and other invasive species were removed and replaced with trees.

And a March 02, 2007 article talked about efforts to eradicate non-native plants and weeds from our roadways:

FRANKFORT — The Capitol was bustling yesterday with the sound and fury of a legislature in session, but in the Rotunda, two dozen people gathered to talk about weeds. They were against them.

Specifically, they were against invasive, non-native weeds — such as bush honeysuckle, kudzu, and garlic mustard — that take root in places where they aren’t wanted, then take over.

In the 2003 and 2004 legislative sessions, state Rep. Carolyn Belcher, D-Owingsville, introduced bills that would create a state weed board that could draw up a list of the worst weeds and coordinate efforts to get rid of them. Both bills failed, but Bender said they might be reintroduced next year.

There are state laws against some problem weeds, Bender said. Farmers are required, for example, to keep musk thistles out of pastures. And the Transportation Cabinet keeps state rights-of-way free of certain weeds. But there’s nothing on the books about the honeysuckle, garlic mustard and other weeds that are continually trying to crowd out native wildflowers in the state’s 57 nature preserves. Invasive species are everywhere.

Linda Niemi

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