The Friends of the Searles Estate put out a call for volunteers to assist in clearing out the overgrown invasive vines and plants that covered the front of the buildings as well as surrounding areas that had been neglected for several years.
The massive historic estate was pristinely cared for over the 65-plus years the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary resided there. But since their departure and the estate’s sale to the city in 2024, it seems Mother Nature has been extra busy!
The first day, 10 volunteers arrived at the estate and worked tirelessly tackling the invasive overgrowth which included Chinese Wysteria, Oriental Bittersweet, Buckthorn, and many other invasive plants and shrubs.
The Friends set up four dates for the cleaning, which started Aug. 19 and would include a visit from Nate Whitmer who would talk about identifying and eradicating invasive plants around our homes and the importance of restoring native plants to our gardens.
Janice Fugge stands behind the huge pile of weeds and invasive trees that had been removed from the front of the main residence. ML photos by Nancy Reardon
