This week on Su Valley Voice, the discussion was about invasive plants, specifically Mayday Trees. Host Phillip Manning was joined by various experts on the topic, including. Gino Graziano with the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, Jim Renkert with the Alaska Division of Forestry Community Forestry Program, Tim Stallard with Alien Species Control, LLC, who specializes in removal of invasive species, and Brian Okonek, who has been a strong local advocate for the removal of invasive species and Mayday Trees in particular.
Mayday Trees, also called Chokecherry or European Bird Cherry trees, are invasive, and pose a threat to the local ecosystem in various ways. While they were originally brought as ornamental trees to Alaska, now efforts are underway to eradicate them in the state.
Property owners with questions about the current local efforts to eliminate Mayday Trees can email Brian Okonek. You can also find out more by visiting the Alaska Division of Forestry’s Community Forestry page.
A Mayday Tree in Talkeetna that is slated for removal. Photo courtesy Brian Okonek 
Believe it or not, all of this is one Mayday Tree! Photo courtesy Tim Stallard 
Mayday Trees have grown in thickets and are establishing monocultures in some Anchorage parklands. Photo courtesy Tim Stallard 
A Mayday Tree (also called a chokecherry) literally chokes out a birch tree. Photo courtesy Tim Stallard 
Mayday Tree saplings carpet the ground after larger trees have been killed. Photo courtesy Tim Stallard. 
A Mayday tree with multiple “suckers” growing out from the root system. Photo courtesy Tim Stallard
