The East Longmeadow Garden Club was founded in 1969. Its purpose is to educate and facilitate interest in all phases of home gardening, better horticultural practices, civic beauty, and conservation of natural resources in East Longmeadow.

We welcome men and women from East Longmeadow and surrounding towns to join. You do not have to be a gardener to belong, but you should have a keen interest in the above mentioned.

GOING GREEN

~ INVASIVE PLANTS ~

BY VICTORIA VIOLET

EAST LONGMEADOW GARDEN CLUB

elgardenclub.org

Welcome to “Going Green” by Victoria Violet.

Have you been hearing about INVASIVE PLANTS?  What are they?

Definition: Invasive plants are species that show a tendency to spread out of control and are often plants that have been introduced from other regions and spread like wildfire in their new habitats.  Invasive plants are non-native (nonindigenous) plants that invade natural areas.

“An invasive species is a non-native species whose introduction does, or is likely to, cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. An invasive species can be a plant, animal, or any other biologically viable species that enters an ecosystem beyond its native range.” As defined by the National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC):

“The Department of Agricultural Resources is proposing to ban/phase-out the importation and sale of more than 140 plants identified as either noxious and/or invasive in the Commonwealth. The Department is seeking comment and will hold public meetings on this action.  The Department derives its authority to take this action under Massachusetts General Law including, but not limited to, Chapter 128 Section 2 and Sections 16 through 31A.” Commonwealth of Massachusetts (MDAR) Dept. of Agricultural Resources.  Check out web site at http://mass.gov/agr/farmproducts/proposed_prohibited_plant_list.htm  

A few common invasive plants that we have enjoyed over the years without having knowledge of their potential harm to the environment and ecosystem are:

Oriental Bittersweet: Asian or Asiatic Bittersweet causes major damage to native plants by girdling. I call it strangling a tree, strangling a bush!  Instead of decorating your front door with sprays of autumn Bittersweet, it may be better to decorate with Indian Corn.  Actually, Bittersweet has invaded my gardens and, figuratively speaking, I pull my lavender hair strands out trying to get rid of it!  Left alone, Bittersweet will invade the yard and forest edges.

Winged Euonymus: Burning Bush is a plant we have always admired in the autumn. The leaves turn a bright crimson to purplish color in the fall.  “It invades forests (as well as my yard) throughout the Northeast and invades a variety of disturbed habitats including forest edges, old fields, and roadsides. Native to northeastern Asia, it was first introduced into America in the 1860s for ornamental purposes.”  Invasive.org

Norway Maple:  This is a Maple that has “winged” seeds, the kind we loved to play with when we were children.  Remember putting them on your nose?  “Known as Acer platanoides, it is able to shade out native understory vegetation and eventually out-competes native tree species in the forest canopy. Thus, it can reduce native species diversity and change the structure of forest habitats.   It is native to continental Europe and was introduced to the northeast in 1756.” Invasive Plant Atlas of New England

Be sure to go to the East Longmeadow Garden Club website at:   www.elgardenclub.org

Until next installment, BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY!   Keep America Green!

Victoria Violet

 INVASIVE PLANTS