“Managing Invasive Plants on the Acadian Landscape: Challenges & Opportunities”
Jesse Wheeler, Vegetation Program Manager, Acadia National Park
Monthly Meeting and Presentation
Birch Bay Retirement Village - April 10, 2025 at 1:00 P.M.
BAR HARBOR—The vast landscape of Acadia National Park (ANP) is vulnerable for invasive plants and trees to enter its boundaries. Recent discussion and studies have brought more attention to the damage caused by the encroachment of invasive and non-native plants. The Bar Harbor Garden Club is pleased to welcome Jesse Wheeler, Acadia National Park’s Vegetation Program Manager, to its April 10th meeting to address the park’s efforts in managing invasive plants and protecting native plants.
Wheeler, a native of Bar Harbor, began his career early with Acadia as a member of the Acadia Youth Conservation Crew. During his college years, Wheeler worked seasonally for the ANP as a Biological Technician restoring native plant populations and managing invasive exotic plants. His interest in working with plants continued to expand and led him to pursue a graduate degree in Conservation Biology with a focus on vegetation at Antioch University New England. After completion of his graduate studies, Wheeler returned to the National Park Service in 2010 where he led a crew monitoring the long-term forest health in National Park units in the Northeast.
From 2015 to 2019, Wheeler worked as the exotic plant program manager at ANP. With his current role as Vegetation Program Manager, Wheeler brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to maintaining the Acadian landscape.
Wheeler’s presentation will begin at 1:00 P.M. on April 10 at Birch Bay Retirement Village in Bar Harbor. All members and the public are invited to attend the monthly meeting. Due to limited seating, those interested in attending the meeting are asked to register by emailing Barbara Amstutz at amstutzbarbara53@gmail.com or calling her at 215-764-0468.
The Bar Harbor Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Maine, New England Garden Clubs, Inc. and National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Website: barharborgardenclub.org