Letter to the Editor: Thanks to those who work to eradicate garlic mustard

(The following Letter to the Edtior has been submitted by Marty Steele of Decorah):

"I would like to give a huge shout out to the Friends of Decorah Parks and everyone I see every spring working tirelessly to eradicate the invasive species garlic mustard in our beautiful parks.  I took a walk through Palisades a few days ago and the Dutchmen's Breeches, Wild Ginger, and Blood Root were blooming in profusion.  Many times I have walked there in the spring and have seen almost no ephemerals blooming.  In a conversation with biologist and chief garlic mustard eradicator Mary Lewis, she told me that the ephemerals are recovering because the garlic mustard is no longer taking up so much of the forest floor.  It is a lot of work to pull the mustard and I know many folks have put in many hours.  I thank them for their gift to all of us who love to walk in the woods!"