08-31-2015, 05:46 PM
Do you have phragmites in your neck of the woods? What local efforts are being undertaken to do something about it?
I have been fighting this particular battle for quite a few years now. It all started with my concern over another wetland invasive plant - the beautiful but extremely invasive Purple Loostrife. I would wander the fen in Pike Bay, removing all the specimens I could find, in an attempt to keep this fragile wetland pristine. Luckily, on that front, there was a control mechanism available that has minimized the damage by that particular plant.
One fine day, about ten years ago, whilst enjoying a brew on the deck of a cottage neighbour, she pointed out into the fen from her place and asked if I knew that 'that new plant' was. On investigation, this newcomer was identified as Phragmites. A lot of research ensued.
This stuff is hard to kill, to put it mildly. And it is even more invasive than Purple Loosetrife. That original patch is gone; it took about 6 years of steady culling to make it go away. And I was, in hindsight, very lucky to be able to do that, as I was able to use Round-Up on it for most of those years, because the water in Lake Huron was so low. But new patches kept showing up.
Last year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture declared Phragmites to be Canada's most invasive plant. And that's saying something, because there are a lot of other nasty ones out there too.
This plant has filled the ditches of all the major freeways in Ontario. It has choked out wetlands all over the province. There are local efforts ongoing in many places in Ontario. Many municipalities have started to undertake and/or pay for removal/mitigation practices. I have some hope about this.
And, I am glad and grateful to be able to say that Pike Bay is Phrag-free, for now. I organized two Phragmites 'Bees' this summer and got a lot of local help to both scout for and remove the Phrag on our bay. It was hard work. One large stand of it was growing in thigh-deep water that was a long wade from shore. Another large stand was in front of the cottage of two frail senior citizens who hadn't even realized what it was, other than a new thing that was blocking their view of the water. I know we will have to do this forever - the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
But, now that I have brought the topic up - please chime in, folks. Do you have Phrag?
I have been fighting this particular battle for quite a few years now. It all started with my concern over another wetland invasive plant - the beautiful but extremely invasive Purple Loostrife. I would wander the fen in Pike Bay, removing all the specimens I could find, in an attempt to keep this fragile wetland pristine. Luckily, on that front, there was a control mechanism available that has minimized the damage by that particular plant.
One fine day, about ten years ago, whilst enjoying a brew on the deck of a cottage neighbour, she pointed out into the fen from her place and asked if I knew that 'that new plant' was. On investigation, this newcomer was identified as Phragmites. A lot of research ensued.
This stuff is hard to kill, to put it mildly. And it is even more invasive than Purple Loosetrife. That original patch is gone; it took about 6 years of steady culling to make it go away. And I was, in hindsight, very lucky to be able to do that, as I was able to use Round-Up on it for most of those years, because the water in Lake Huron was so low. But new patches kept showing up.
Last year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture declared Phragmites to be Canada's most invasive plant. And that's saying something, because there are a lot of other nasty ones out there too.
This plant has filled the ditches of all the major freeways in Ontario. It has choked out wetlands all over the province. There are local efforts ongoing in many places in Ontario. Many municipalities have started to undertake and/or pay for removal/mitigation practices. I have some hope about this.
And, I am glad and grateful to be able to say that Pike Bay is Phrag-free, for now. I organized two Phragmites 'Bees' this summer and got a lot of local help to both scout for and remove the Phrag on our bay. It was hard work. One large stand of it was growing in thigh-deep water that was a long wade from shore. Another large stand was in front of the cottage of two frail senior citizens who hadn't even realized what it was, other than a new thing that was blocking their view of the water. I know we will have to do this forever - the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
But, now that I have brought the topic up - please chime in, folks. Do you have Phrag?
And you may call it righteousness
When civility survives,
But I've had dinner with the Devil and
I know nice from right.
From Dinner with the Devil, by Big Rude Jake
When civility survives,
But I've had dinner with the Devil and
I know nice from right.
From Dinner with the Devil, by Big Rude Jake