sightings and invasive plant species

[Anthony Zemba]

Diane:
What you are most likely seeing is Cow Parsnip Heracleum maximum  which
could be mistaken by some for giant hogweed.  see image here: 
http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=hema80_005_avp.tif
Regards, 
anthony

Anthony J. Zemba
Senior Environmental Scientist/Ecologist
Certified Soil Scientist
Planning and Environmental Compliance
Maguire Group Inc.
One Court Street
New Britain, CT 06051
p: (860) 224-9141 ext. 236
f: (860) 224-9147
Azemba at MaguireGroup.com 



>>> <butterflypr at comcast.net> 6/7/2008 6:37 PM >>>
Haven't had a moment to go out into the field, but I am seeing some
leps on the road.  Today, traveling on 80 through Madison, saw two Tiger
Swallowtails.  Possibly in Guilford, a sulphur or two and a couple of
Cabbage Whites.  Can't wait til school is out and I can hit the field!

Something that I'm wondering about on the side of the road--is hogweed
increasing in Connecticut, or is the Queen Anne's Lace getting REALLY
big, or is it something else altogether?

Also, just got the following in an email from the Girl Scouts of
Connecticut:
"Garlic Mustard, Trout Brook Valley, and Other Open Spaces"
Reports from Trout Brook Valley, a large preserve owned by the Aspetuck
Land Trust and located on the Weston/Easton border, indicate that some
individuals are pulling invasive garlic mustard and leaving the pulled
plants on the trails.  Some thought the zealous workers were Girl
Scouts. 
 
While Girl Scouts and others are encouraged to pull up this invasive
plant, once the plant forms its white flowers * even if pulled * it
cannot be allowed to remain and form seeds that will spread to new areas
as people walk over the seeds and get them caught in their hiking shoes.
 Pulled flowering or seeded plants must be bagged, removed, and thrown
in the trash.  This practice applies to garlic mustard on any piece of
land, even one’s own yard. 
 
Girl Scouts and other volunteers are encouraged to help control
invasive plants in order to protect biodiversity and to help their
environment. 

I know I've been guilty of pulling and leaving--guess I'll stop doing
that!
Diane Adams