Monk Parakeets!

Interesting video about exotic monk parakeets.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23487753#23487753

New live plant regulations in Georgia

New regulations from the Georgia Department of Agriculture now prohibit the sale or distribution of any plant listed on the Federal Noxious Weed list or determined by the commissioner to be a public nuisance. The federal noxious weed regulations have been in place since 1995; However the new regulations include all varieties and cultivars of these species. Most noteworthy of these species is red baron, a cultivar of Imperata cylindrica (cogongrass). This plant is a major problem in the southern United States and there is an effort in Georgia to try and stifle an invasion before it reaches levels similar to that seen in Florida and Alabama. The efforts of the Georgia Department of Agriculture are a step in the right direction. Work to spread the word about these new regulations is needed. A consulting forester last week intercepted his neighbor who was going to plant Red Baron that she had ordered and received from Burgess Seed & Plant Co. in Bloomington, IL. Help spread the word!

You can view the federal noxious weed list at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/weeds/downloads/weedlist2006.pdf

Natural Areas Conference 2008

Save The Date!

The 2008 Natural Areas Conference will be held at The Doubletree Hotel in Nashville on October 14-17, 2008. More details can be accessed at http://www.naturalarea.org/ . If you have any questions please contact Reggie Reeves in the Division of Natural Areas a 615-532-0431.

CWMA conference registration

Register now! "People-Powered Projects: The National Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) Conference" will be held April 15-17, 2008, in Reno, NV. Online registration is now available at http://www.weedcenter.org/CWMAconf/cwma_conf.htm. With representatives from all 50 states, the conference will focus on CWMA funding and logistics, working with volunteers, EDRR, awareness and outreach, state and national initiatives, and will conclude with an all-day field trip to sites in the Reno area. Cooperative Weed Management Areas mobilize communities to prevent and manage invasive plants and to support healthy ecosystems. Join CWMAworkers, land managers, and concerned citizens in a national conference to learn from each other, improve approaches to CWMA organization and management, and increase support for CWMAs across the United States. The event is organized by the Center for Invasive Plant Management and co-hosted by the Midwest Invasive Plant Network, Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, Cal-IPC, Alaska CNIPM, Mid-Atlantic EPPC, Southeast EPPC, and the Nevada Dept. of Agriculture. For more information, visit http://www.weedcenter.org/CWMAconf/cwma_conf.htm.

Laurel wilt claims a historic tree

Many of you are aware of the new laurel wilt disease that has been moving through the southeast. Recently, the disease has claimed a 125-year-old red bay in Brunswick, Georgia. This tree was the oldest red bay in the United States.

To see the full article, see www.thebrunswicknews.com/open_access/news/347800582466931.php

OSU Extension (Meigs County) Invasive Plants Workshop

OSU Extension Offering Invasive Plant Workshop
A workshop will be held Thursday, March 27 from 9-4pm, at the OSU
Extension office in Pomeroy, OH for landowners who would like to learn
to identify and control invasive plants. More information is available
on www.oipc.info and the registration deadline is March 14.

Garlic mustard control "contest"

I applaud the efforts of Iowa City and Johnson County. What an inventive (and fun) way to try and control a nasty invasive! See below...

Last May, the City of Iowa City and Johnson County thought of a new way to fight the Plant from Hell (AKA Garlic Mustard): A garlic mustard challenge was organized and groups of volunteers, young and old, attacked predetermined sites with a vengeance. Almost a ton of GM was pulled.

The event is being organized again this year, with a new twist: other cities or locations are being challenged to BEAT THE JOHNSON COUNTY RECORD! It's a competition, a challenge, to see who can pull the most.

People throughout the state are invited to organize crews and join in. This is a win-win event: you decrease GM and at the same time educate others about the nasty plant and how it should be fought.

Please see the attached Press Release, and the Sample Challenge Letter inserted below. Do consider joining in and thanks, Connie Mutel

Dear _____,



In the spring of 2007, Iowa City and Johnson County area residents rallied together to establish a record for the Most Garlic Mustard Plants Ever Pulled. The event was sponsored by Iowa City's Neighborhood Services, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works Departments, with support from many Johnson County environmental organizations such as Friends of Hickory Hill Park, Johnson County Heritage Trust, Johnson County Conservation Board, Project Green, Environmental Advocates, and the Backyard Abundance Campaign. The goal was not only to control the spread of these noxious weeds but also to expand public awareness about the problem. As you know, garlic mustard is a non-native plant species that has no local natural controls, partially because none of Iowa's native insects or wildlife rely on it as a food source. The plant has spread at an alarming rate the past two decades, and is now degrading local woodlands by crowding out native plants such as wildflowers, ferns, and tree seedlings, which in turn reduces the food supply for woodland animals. To control the spread, the weeds must be pulled or cut between March and June, before they go to seed and repopulate.

Last May, Johnson Country residents pulled a total of 1,900 pounds (almost a ton) of invasive garlic mustard plants from the Johnson County area. We concentrated on public areas such as City and County parks, but also encouraged private property owners to permit pulling on their property. We hope to build on that success this year!

The City of Iowa City would like to extend a challenge to _______ in hopes of stimulating growth of the program and continuing regional efforts to eradicate this noxious weed. The second annual Johnson County/Iowa City Great Garlic Mustard Challenge is scheduled for April 19th and 26th. We hope to beat last year's record and encourage other communities to participate! We will be weighing the garlic mustard pulled at our April events and will also include any garlic mustard plants pulled throughout the month of April. We also encourage our challengers to make the weed pulling a month-long event.

If you think your community might be interested in such a challenge, we would be happy to share any of our promotional materials, brochures, experiences,

etc. to assist you in the process. We learned a lot last year and intend to make this year's project even better!

Thank you for considering participation in this exciting event. If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Marcia Klingaman with Neighborhood Services at 319/356-5237 or e-mail marcia-klingaman@ iowa-city. org.

Sincerely,

The Great Garlic Mustard Challenge Planning Committee