Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
BELMONT — Fragrant honeysuckle, dainty pink blooms of multiflora rose, vivid swaths of purple loosestrife – what could be wrong with these pretty wild plants? Unfortunately, they’re all among the many invasive species that are spreading locally, crowding out the plants we want and, in some cases, endangering human health. These “uninvited guests” in Vermont will be the focus of a workshop Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mount Holly Town Library, a free event sponsored by the Ninevah Foundation as part of the popular “Know Your Wild Neighbors” series.
Hannah Putnam of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and the Ottaquechee Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area will be the featured expert. Participants will learn how to recognize and control a range of invasive plants – including “poison parsnip,” which looks like overgrown Queen Anne’s Lace but can cause a painful burn if you touch it. “Invasive species are one of the threats facing our region,” says Putnam, “and it is important for us to understand the impact these species have on our native habitats. We need to know not only the steps we can take to manage populations, but also which species require a rapid response and which do not.”
For more info, email mauri.small@gmail.com.
