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Fallingwater trying to remove exotic plants
What: Removal of invasive exotic plants at Fallingwater
When: Today
More Information: Cara Armstrong at 724-329-1441, Ext. 1100, or Richard Liberto at 412-321-4427.
Aaron Bruckart can be reached at abruckart@tribweb.com or 412-320-7886.
The site in Mill Run, Westmoreland County, and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is under attack from invasive plant species that are threatening the biological diversity of the area.
Organizers are seeking volunteers to help eradicate the pesky plants. The first of several volunteer opportunities is scheduled for today.
"We want to show people that you can have a rich landscape using natives instead of exotics," says Lynda Waggoner, director of Fallingwater and vice president of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
Some of the plants they are trying to remove are English ivy, wisteria, honeysuckle and burning bush.
"There's one hillside where the English Ivy is growing," she says. "It has basically overtaken the hill. There used to be a lot of wildflowers there. Now it's all English ivy."
The invasive species were planted by gardeners when the Kaufmann family lived at Fallingwater.
Fallingwater staff is asking for volunteers to help carry out the work. Graduate students from Chatham College's Landscape Architecture program have already converged on the site once, but more volunteers are needed.
The volunteer program highlights invasive plant species and provides a structure to educate while preserving and celebrating Fallingwater landscape and its local ecosystem.
Many volunteers are needed because the only way to beat these exotic plans is through vigilance, Waggoner says.
"It takes several years of oversight and watching," she says. "We'll have to go back again and again."
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