Woods Keeper at
Deepdene Park
Deepdene Park Winter Recap 2025
The Woods Keeper team made several visits to Deepdene Park this winter working to remove and suppress invasive plants including common ivy, privet, mahonia, honeysuckle vine, honeysuckle bush, horned holly, elaeagnus, liriope, burning bush and much more.
The steep slopes (hence the name Deepdene) present a couple of different challenges — safe access and erosion. When appropriate we built berms and in some cases even planted live elderberry stakes to help stabilize those slopes.
Even though this is the “dormant” season, we’ve observed and enjoyed many of the native plants that call these magical woods home. Wild ginger, rusty blackhaw, and river oats just to name a few. We are more than ready for Spring as it’ll be our first in Deepdene Park. Did someone say spring ephemerals in an old growth remnant forest? Can’t wait!
Overview:
Partnering with Olmsted Linear Park Alliance, Birds Georgia, and core volunteers, Woods Keeper joined the restoration efforts in the Summer of 2024.
Thanks to previous efforts by so many before us, much of the forest is in superb condition. However some areas are congested with evergreen invasive plants such as privet, horned holly, mahonia, elaeagnus, and more. Our goal is to suppress and remove those invasive plants to make room for more native plant biodiversity. Determining priorities is a collaborative process between OLPA and its partners.
Deepdene Park is just 1 of 6 segments that make up Atlanta Olmsted Linear Park. Unlike the 5 pastoral segments, it is a 22-acre wooded tract whose shade provides opportunity for many invasive plants to thrive. Stiltgrass and chaff flower are two of the more difficult invasive plants to control although its a challenge to which are are committed.
For more about Olmsted Linear Park visit altantaolmstedpark.org
