At the Upstate Chapter’s June 2025 meeting, Raven Sterling delivered a high-energy, no-fluff presentation on fighting invasive plants—without chemicals. Drawing on years of boots-on-the-ground experience, Raven shared how her crew removes aggressive invaders like English ivy, multiflora rose, Chinese wisteria, and Japanese knotweed using simple hand tools, strategic triage, and lots of persistence.
She highlighted the many overlooked ways invasive species spread—from mulch and nursery stock to mower blades and pets—and stressed the importance of early detection. One standout story detailed her team’s efforts to protect bunched arrowhead, a federally endangered bog plant found only in Greenville and Henderson Counties. After clearing surrounding invasives, they saw it begin to repopulate areas where it hadn’t grown in years.
Raven’s message was clear: know what’s in your yard, don’t assume “ornamental” means harmless, and question business-as-usual landscaping practices. “This is the system,” she said, underscoring the power of healthy soil and mechanical removal over quick chemical fixes. It was a talk equal parts fire and fieldwork—leaving attendees both informed and energized.
