Flames climbed the stems of phragmites bordering Maceday Lake at All Saints Cemetery, off Nelsey Road, and began opening the view to the blue lake, March 24.
‘One of the big issues here is that phragmites hinder views of scenic areas like we have of Maceday and Lotus lakes from our property,? said Russ Burns, director at All Saints and The Preserve.
“They also are harmful to the environment. We want to make sure native plans thrive and our lakefront property is aesthetically pleasing for those families and individuals who want to have a view of these beautiful lakes when they visit.”
All Saints Cemetery and The Preserves conducted a controlled burn of the phragmites, which is the best way to get rid of phragmites in wet conditions. The fire also destroys any seeds the plant may produce.
Before the controlled burn, All Saints worked with the Maceday Lake Homeowners Association to make sure residents were comfortable with the process.
All Saints hired Native Landscapes of Clarkston and Plantwise of Ann Arbor to conduct and oversee the burn to make sure it was done to environmental standards and state regulations.
All Saints is a traditional burial cemetery, and The Preserve at All Saints, the only all natural or green burial cemetery in Southeastern Michigan.