Big Lake Native Plant Trail Restoration Project

Monthly Community Service Hours Completed: November: 3 hours

Cumulative Fall Semester Service Hours Completed : 13.5 hours

Today I had the opportunity to volunteer at New Orleans City Park Conservancy Group by working on the Big Lake Native Plant Trail Restoration Project. The weather could not have been more beautiful and there did not seem to be a single cloud in the sky. I learned so much from the Volunteer Coordinators who had over 25+ years of collective experience in working with native plants. We worked in the small marshlands to remove some of the invasive species of plants that were hindering the native plants from growing healthily. Some of these invasive species included Peruvian Skullcap, Chamberbitters, nonlocal Dayweed, and a mysterious hybrid of some type of intrusive grass. This mysterious grass is also non-flowering which makes its identification even more difficult. With removing these invasive plants, it allows local plant such as the aquatic Milkweed and the Obedient plant to grow naturally. The Obedient plant is named as such because no matter which way you arrange the flowers of the plant, it will keep its flowers in the same exact spot you left them! Apparently this is the only plant in the world that will do this and it was fascinating to see in person. I also saw a lot of people setting up for the Beignet Fest that is scheduled to take place in City Park tomorrow, so I may have to go check that out since it is so close to my house.

The Pharmacology program has been challenging and we only have a few weeks before the semester ends. I will keep working hard and I hope that I can keep my grades up so that I can achieve the goal of getting a 4.0 this semester just like I set out to do at the beginning of the academic year! This winter break is much needed and I can't wait to get some time to spend with family. Wish me luck for these last few exams and see you next semester!

P.S. Dr. Clarkson, if you see this, Dr. Scott Davis who worked with Tulane SOM in the Department of Pediatrics for over 40 years says hi! He was a fellow volunteer that I had the pleasure of meeting today!