Friends of Dearborn Park

09/30/2026

09/25/2026

The daylilies are planted at Dearborn Park! 🌼

While we were working, two longtime neighbors stopped to thank us and say how much they’ve enjoyed watching the park change over the years. One has lived in the neighborhood all her life; the other has been here for 35 years. That meant a lot to hear, especially after all the compost hauling!

We’re planning to plant daffodil bulbs in late October or early November. I can’t wait to see the flowers next spring, but I’m enjoying this beautiful fall weather right now, too.

09/25/2026

The daylilies are planted!

The daylilies are planted! While we were working, two longtime neighbors stopped to thank us and tell us how much they have enjoyed watching the transformation of Dearborn Park over the years. One has lived in the neighborhood all her life, and the other has been here for 35 years. Hearing that made all the digging, hauling, and spreading worthwhile....

The daylilies are planted! While we were working, two longtime neighbors stopped to thank us and tell us how much they have enjoyed watching the transformation of Dearborn Park over the years. One …

09/24/2026

The first phase of a new planting area at Dearborn Park is underway!
Today, compost provided by DeKalb County was spread along the Deerwood Drive entrance to begin preparing a new bed for daylilies and daffodils. This initial layer will improve the soil and create a better growing environment before planting.
There is still more work ahead, but we’re looking forward to adding color to this part of the park and building on it over time.
Thank you to DeKalb County for providing the compost and supporting improvements at Dearborn Park.

— Friends of Dearborn Park
DearbornPark.org



https://dearbornpark.org/2026/09/24/dearborn-park-daylilies-and-daffodils/ -5660

08/04/2026

Good news! The native azaleas at the Deerwood Drive entrance to Dearborn Park are starting to grow back.

You may remember that last October there was an unfortunate mix-up when a DeKalb County grounds crew accidentally cut down the shrubs that Friends of Dearborn Park had planted about 10 years ago. While they look a little scraggly today, that’s to be expected. They have been putting their energy into rebuilding healthy root systems, and by next year they should be much fuller and once again provide a beautiful welcome to the park.

These aren’t just ornamental shrubs. Native azaleas are an important part of Georgia’s natural landscape, providing seasonal color while supporting pollinators such as native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Using native plants also helps create a healthier, more resilient park by providing habitat for wildlife and reducing the need for extra maintenance once established.

We’re grateful to see them bouncing back and look forward to watching them flourish for many years to come.

08/04/2026

Azaleas Making a Comeback at the Deerwood Drive Entrance

Azaleas Making a Comeback at the Deerwood Drive Entrance Good news! The native azaleas at the Deerwood Drive entrance to Dearborn Park are starting to grow back. You may remember that last October there was an unfortunate mix-up when a DeKalb County grounds crew accidentally cut down the shrubs that Friends of Dearborn Park had planted about 10 years ago. While they look a little scraggly today, that’s to be expected....

Azaleas Making a Comeback at the Deerwood Drive Entrance Good news! The native azaleas at the Deerwood Drive entrance to Dearborn Park are starting to grow back. You may remember that last October …

08/04/2026

Good news! the Azaleas at the Deerwood Dr entrance of Dearborn Park are starting to grow back. You may remember last October there was a mixup and the DeKalb County grounds crew chopped down some of the shrubs Friends of Dearborn Park planted about 10 years ago. They are a little scraggly now but by next year they should be good.

06/22/2026

Tree down on Deerwood Dr in Dearborn Park have been notified

02/12/2026

Invasive Plant Removal Disposal

02/12/2026

Invasive Plant Removal Disposal

We wanted to ask a quick question that we’ve noticed coming up more often lately in the park and along the paths:

When invasive plants are removed, what’s the best practice for what happens next?

We ask because we’re seeing a pattern that’s worth talking about.

In several areas, invasive vines and shrubs have been cut back or pulled, which is great. That first step matters. But instead of being removed from the site, the cut material is often left right where it fell. Piled up. Sometimes neatly, sometimes not. Always still very much present.

At first glance, this can look harmless. The plants are cut, after all. Job done, right?

Unfortunately, with invasives, that’s rarely how it works.

Many of the most aggressive invasive plants in our area don’t need roots, soil, or much encouragement at all to keep spreading. English ivy, privet, vinca, and similar species can re-root from cut vines, nodes, or even small fragments left in contact with the ground. When cut material is left on the forest floor, especially in shaded or moist areas, it often survives long enough to reestablish itself. In some cases, it spreads even farther than before.

There’s also the issue of scale. Demonstration piles may seem contained, but over time they flatten, spread, and blend back into the landscape. What started as “removed” becomes “redistributed.” The visual signal to others is also confusing. It looks like the work is finished, when in reality the problem has just been paused.

Another concern is impact on the understory. Piles of cut invasive plants smother native seedlings, block light, and create exactly the kind of disturbed conditions invasives love. Native plants lose twice: first to the invasive growth, and then to the aftermath of partial removal.

So when we ask what best practice looks like, here’s what it generally includes:

• Removing invasive plant material fully from sensitive areas

• Drying it thoroughly off the ground where re-rooting isn’t possible

• Bagging or hauling it out when feasible

• Or staging it in a way that prevents regrowth and spread

None of this is about blame. Invasive removal is hard work, and we’re grateful for anyone willing to take it on. But how we finish the job matters just as much as starting it.

The goal isn’t just to cut invasives. The goal is to reduce their ability to come back.

So we’re asking, genuinely and publicly, because it’s an important conversation for the health of the park

How to dispose of invasive plants We wanted to ask a quick question that we’ve noticed coming up more often lately in the park and along the paths: When invasive plants are removed, what’s the best…