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plants we have is important. I used my camera to take pictures. The pictures are posted on our bulletin board, web <br />page, and newsletters. When members saw us removing the purple loofstrife's beautiful flowers we had to explain <br />what we were doing. An invasive plant list was posted on our Audubon bulletin board to show members which plants <br />needed to be removed. We strive to manage the naturalized areas and plant species in a beneficial manner. We don't <br />let everything grow everywhere. We have specific areas where we allow milkweed. It looks bad if only one milkweed <br />plant is in the middle of a grassy area as opposed to a group of milkweed on the edge of a wood line. In the few <br />areas where we received complaints of lost balls or speed of play became an issue, we just tweaked our mowing. <br />Usually an extra pass of the rough mower was enough to make the <br />members happy. <br />Happy golfers <br />I rarely hear complaints that our areas are unkempt. Members <br />understand that if a plant is left standing, then it must be serving a <br />purpose. Members have actually told me that they have let some <br />milkweed grow at their house and monitor the plants for caterpillars. <br />We never stop tweaking or learning from our environmental projects. <br />Here's an example: We have three acres in our natural area <br />management program that we used to seed yearly. Now we only <br />seed when necessary, and we use more perennials and natives. We <br />could maintain the natural areas differently, such as a monoculture of tall fescue in lieu of allowing some natural <br />succession. However, we have let nature take over and have gained so much more in return. <br />Learn more about the Rockland Golf Club. <br />11 <br />