Swallowed up by Swallow-wort

Just got back from Robert Wehle State Park in NY for a first look at the invasive Swallow-wort problem, and beginning to think about how to interpret to visitors how they can help in preventing the spread of the plant using proposed seed check stations and other strategies. Thought you might like to see what the plant does to any habitat it gets a root-hold in. Besides growing up to 6 feet a year and shading out native plants, it also produces a chemical that prevents other plants from growing near it. Everything that is brown in this photo blanketing the forest floor, is the Swallow-wort. It is "everywhere" here except in fields where it is mowed. In the fall (in the photo) it produces tons of seeds that look like milk-weed fluff. It even out competes other invasive plants, like garlic mustard!!

Invasive Plant Interpretation

We received a contract from NY State Parks to develop an interpretive plan for using interp. as a management tool to help control the invasive plant Pale Swallow-wort (photo on the left). This will involve interpreting to visitors steps they can use to help control the spread of this plant, via seeds, etc. to other parks or their own homes. We will be looking at boot cleaning stations and clothing seed check stations with brushes so trail walkers can brush themselves off to remove any seeds that might be clinging to them. I will keep you posted on this use of interpretation as a management tool as the project progresses. If you have any interpretive programs to help control invasive plants, let us know and share ideas and successes. Some of our "interpretive ideas" for panel headers at boot cleaning stations include: "Spread the word - not the seeds", and "Give Swallow-wart the bursh off!".

Heitage Destination Consulting

For the past several years I have had the pleasure of working with Cris Emberson in the UK, during his time as head of Norfolk Tourism. About a year a ago Cris and I decided to form HDC, with Cris as the UK Managing Director. We wanted to have a base to bid and work on UK, European Union and other world-wide interpretation, heritage tourism and tourism destination projects. This relationship has really grown and HDC is a huge success. You can visit our web site there at: http://www.heritagedestination.com/. Cris is currently working on a variety of projects in Chili, including a new and innovative interpretive trail. HDC has won a project in Osorno in Northern patagonia to develop a scarecrow sensory trail. The trail will offer a range of sensory experiences including a bare-foot path. Cris will post more information and photos about this innovative project as it develops.








Cris Emberson, Managing Director of HDC conducintg a planning session with clients in Chili.

I recently had my text book published in China. Someone sent me this photo as an example of... well, you get the idea. That' looks like a long walk to hold your thoughts!

Interpretive flypaper

Well, this is something new for me. I call this blog "interpretive flypaper", where I hope new ideas, problem solving and other innovations in interpretation will "stick". Over the past year I have had lots of folks sending me e-mails with questions about different interpretive aspects, from new media to questions about interpretive planning. I thought that this would be a good place for me to provide "free" consulting time to anyone I can help. I will try to answer your questions, give you other resource information or links, or just my best views. Of course, anyone can add to these responses as well. As one philosopher said, "there is nothing more dangerous than having only one good idea". So well see if this works.

I will also post other JVA things that are going on as well, updates on some of our interpretive projects and any innovating ideas we use in developing interpretive plans for sites. I will also list information on interpretive training workshops.

So lets have a conversation. I look forward to meeting you.

John Veverka