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As a Cambridge real estate agent, the city squares of Cambridge, Somerville and Medford and the town centers of Arlington, Watertown and Belmont, Massachusetts are my home turf. And as a lifelong New Englander who’s lived within twenty miles of Boston most of my life, I can introduce you to other nearby towns as we search for your new home. If you’re planning to sell your home in Cambridge, MA or nearby you’ll find plenty of info about the home selling process here too. Questions? Send me an email or call me at 617-504-1737.

Cambridge Pod Patrol

Join the Cambridge Pod Patrol - Pick Pods!

Join the Cambridge Pod Patrol - Pick Pods!

Black swallow-wort is flourishing in Cambridge and nearby cities and towns  so the Cambridge Pod Patrol will be hitting the streets and city green spaces.

The Cambridge Pod Patrol is a volunteer endeavor organized to spread the word about this highly invasive vine-like plant and to enlist residents’ help in stemming its spread throughout the city.

Black swallow-wort is a danger for birds and butterflies and its aggressive growth forces out native vegetation or garden plants.

Once you know what it looks like you’ll likely spot black swallow-wort all over the city.  It covers chain link fences, it grows in gardens and winds its way around other plants, it’s likely to sprout up anywhere there’s a bit of dirt.  It’s most distinctive features are green, shiny leaves in opposing pairs and, at this time of year, smooth greed pods that look like a cross between a milk weed pod and a peapod.

What can you do about black swallowwort when you see it? 

Pick pods!  Carry a bag with you when you’re out on a walk and pick all the pods you can find.  Tightly wrap the bag and dispose of it in the trash – not in a compost bin or with yard waste. 

And let your neighbors know about black swallow-wort in the neighborhood.  Here’s the Cambridge Pod Patrol flyer with more info and pictures of Black Swallow-wort.

Estimates suggest that a thick stand of black swallow-wort will produce 2,000 seeds per square yard.  Pods left on a dead vine will still open and send out seeds.

Unfortunately, black swallow-wort has made inroads at Fresh Pond Reservation.  This Sunday, July 10th, the Cambridge Pod Patrol will hold it’s debut event at Fresh Pond Reservation.  Come join the battle against Black Swallow-wort and help pick pods.  There’ll be information and refreshments for pod pickers.

The Cambridge Pod Patrol kickoff is scheduled for Sunday, July 10, 2011 from 1 to 4 pm at Fresh Pond Reservation.  Volunteers can meet in the Water Department parking lot and will head out around Fresh Pond to pick pods.

Black Swallow-wort – Help Spread the Word – Not the Seed!

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