Japanese Knotwood

 Visit #1603, Saturday 6 June 26, 6:00-8:15AM, 3.6 miles, 1.0 lbs of litter.

Temps in the upper 50s, sunny and moderately humid.

Last week  I mentioned helping a neighbor begin the removal of a Japanese Knotwood infestation in his back yard. I recalled seeing something similar in Hubbard Park but never had a second thought about what it was; I thought it was a typical plant and not the invasive weed it is. Now I know better.

And as promised last week, here are photos of the stands of Japanese Knotweed in Hubbard Park.

On the left it is across from the little outbuilding near the water treatment plant.

This stand is on the Soap Box Derby track.

And this stand is across from the retention ponds.

To educate yourself on Japanese Knotweed you can reference THIS information from the University of Connecticut.

During last week's hike I overlooked some graffiti I spotted two weeks prior. I took advantage of a bike ride during the week to make up for my daydreaming.

Here it is in mid-erasure, which took all of 30 seconds. The finished product is non-existent, if that makes any sense.

On that same ride I picked up the trails and found some more of our vandal's red hearts. Those are numbers 12 and 13 for this year. In addition, I found Cat Graffiti #s 35 and 36 since November 2016.

The cut tree ends you see are from a fallen tree I removed from the trail in April 2026.

Here's everything dutifully covered.

Keeping with the "red heart" theme, I removed this sign from a tree. I wonder who it's intended for...

Crossing over I-691 via the walkbridge, I discovered Antifa visits Hubbard Park.

I spied some new survey markers on Hubbard Park land adjacent to West Main Street. I did not disturb them. If I recall, there was talk at one time of constructing soccer fields on this land. I wonder if the markers and the soccer fields are related.

I removed Foam Sticker #26 of 2026.

I also found Cat Graffiti #37 since November 2016, and covered it.

All that removal stuff might seem depressing so I hope I can redeem myself with the following:

The Halfway House is in need of its mid-summer trim. I'll pass the suggestion on to the parks department.

Last week the Meriden Soap Box Derby Club held an event. The parks department supplied trash cans.

As of my hike one week later, they were not removed.

While these two were close by and would easily remind parks workers to remove them...

...this trash can all by its lonesome was further up the track and likely to be forgotten. It cried for company.

I introduced them to each other.

Another Meriden Soap Box Derby event is scheduled for later in June. 

While doing research for this blog entry I learned the Meriden Parks Department's web site has a handy link showing all the facilities available and the ability to request a reservation. Very nice; the parks staff is to be complimented for their effort.