Before restoration, 2005:

These buckthorn trees resprouted because they were cut but not killed with herbicide. Buckthorn began invading Crestwood 70 years ago: 10 years ago, I counted 60 rings on the "mother of all buckthorns" near Rosa Rd. A mature buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is as big as a full-size apple tree, and will out-shade and out-compete native vegetation.