A second edition of Weeds of the Northeast (Cornell University Press, 2023) by Joseph C. Neal, Richard H. Uva, Joseph M. DiTomaso and Antonio DiTommaso has been published. It’s a comprehensive reference book for those aspects of weed biology and ecology important to weed management. [Read more…] about Weeds of the Northeast
Native Plants
Wildflower Spotlight: Virginia Virgin’s Bower
Does choosing wildflowers for the edge of your yard leave you in a bind? The showy native vine Virginia virgin’s bower is a great choice to plant along wire fences and trellises. This native vine’s beautiful flowers are beneficial to pollinators and its seeds look like silky fireworks. [Read more…] about Wildflower Spotlight: Virginia Virgin’s Bower
April is New York Native Plant Month
The 23 Garden Club of America member clubs in the state of New York have announced the official designation of April 2023 as “New York Native Plant Month.” A signed proclamation by Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to follow by April 18th, 2023.
The GCA has led this effort across all 50 states and Washington, DC to increase awareness of the critical role native plants play in supporting a healthy environment, thriving wildlife and pollinator populations, reducing use of pesticides and fertilizers, cleaning air and water and so much more. [Read more…] about April is New York Native Plant Month
Two Ticketed For Illegally Harvesting Cattails
After observing the harvest of a large amount of cattails from the Lakeshore Marshes Wildlife Management Area in the town of Huron, Wayne County, NY, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Ranger Raffaldi spent a significant amount of time patrolling the area. [Read more…] about Two Ticketed For Illegally Harvesting Cattails
Hair Ice and Frost Flowers
If you are out walking on a winter morning, you might be lucky enough to see some of nature’s most beautiful and ephemeral sights: hair ice and frost flowers, both snow-white and delicate against the dull forest floor. [Read more…] about Hair Ice and Frost Flowers
Eastern Dwarf Mistletoe: A Hemiparasitic Hydrostatic Time Bomb
Have you noticed the cheery evergreen sprig with pearly berries, currently perched over the doorways of Yankee traditionalists and those desperate to be kissed?
That’s common mistletoe (Viscum album), which one botanical dispatch from the 1800s called “perhaps the most distinguished plant in the flora of England.” It’s found in broadleaf trees across Europe, and its associations with protection and fertility trace back to at least the Ancient Greeks and Celtic Druids. [Read more…] about Eastern Dwarf Mistletoe: A Hemiparasitic Hydrostatic Time Bomb
Missing Man Found Unlawfully Harvesting Wild Ginseng
A Delaware County, NY man reported missing over the summer may not have wanted to be found. Reported missing on August 31st after failing to return home, multiple law enforcement agencies searched for the man and his vehicle. [Read more…] about Missing Man Found Unlawfully Harvesting Wild Ginseng
Cranberry Bogs of Long Island: Some History & Natural History
Nearly everyone has enjoyed the several products derived from the fruit of the cranberry, but few people are familiar with the ecology of this interesting plant or the role it has played in many local economies and histories.
Today the cranberry industry is an important. part of the agricultural economy only in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. But many other parts of the country were at one time involved in cranberry production. [Read more…] about Cranberry Bogs of Long Island: Some History & Natural History
Establishing Milkweed for Monarchs
During a late summer walk, I noticed that the common milkweed in our back field is becoming not-so-common. Once vigorous patches of the milky green plants have dwindled, engulfed in a sea of Canada goldenrod. [Read more…] about Establishing Milkweed for Monarchs
Hackberry Galls: Little Green Yurts
A student plopped a leaf on my desk, pointed to several green lumps on its underside, and asked, “What are those green growths?” It was a stump-the-professor moment, and in this case, I was indeed stumped. The growths certainly seemed to be galls of some sort. But which ones? [Read more…] about Hackberry Galls: Little Green Yurts