Like this:

me in the office

 Every now and again, when I am not entertaining guests, I walk around the office and check in with my human co-workers.  I manage to pick up some interesting tidbits of information by eavesdropping.  Common terms that get thrown into human conversation around here include: preservation, stewardship, treats, contracts, grant application, gratitude, and chocolate, to name a few.

 

One term caught my attention the other day: Invasive species.  Perplexed, I decided to stay and hear more, rather than grabbing that oh-so-tempting toy sitting in the corner and engaging someone in a nice game of fetch.

 

What I learned is that invasive plant and animal species are kind of like alien invaders.  Though not like this kind of alien: 

space alien

 More like this: 

Asian Long-Horned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

Though maybe they are more similar than I think….

 

Anyway, non-native invasive species are non-indigenous plants or animals that adversely affect the habitats they invade, often to the detriment to the native species of plants and animals.  They tend to spread fast and furious.  So, bad news if you are plant that’s been here a long time and for the animals that have come to depend on you for a meal and maybe a place to live. 

 

On a walk today MW showed me the Lesser Celandine(Ficaria verna), aka Fig Buttercup. Pretty, huh?

Ficaria-verna

 

Turns out it’s not originally from these, here parts.  It comes from Eurasia – not sure exactly where that is, but I know it’s not where I am from, which is Hunterdon County, New Jersey. 

    

Anyway, this plant invades marshy areas and crowds out other native marsh plant species like this one: 

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

 

They look surprisingly alike, don’t they? Humans probably cannot tell the difference very easily, but I can – they smell really different.

 

Another invader plant at the Dvoor Farm is called Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), and it originates in Asia, not North America. I know lots about this one because it causes great consternation to me on my daily walks.  

Rosa multiflora and me

It’s prickly and low to the ground and sometimes I get lost in it as I track a really good smell.

Turns out that most of these invasive species find their way to Hunterdon County through human activity.  Some of these invaders are considered decorative by humans, who willingly plant them in their gardens and yards.  Multiflora Rose was at one point promoted by the US Soil Conservation Service as an ideal “living fence” and for erosion control.  It’s now classified as a noxious weed  in New Jersey.

Humans, go figure. 

I hear lots of talk in the office about controlling these alien invaders and encouraging native plants and animals to flourish.  Sometimes we get volunteers out on the farm to pull out multiflora rose and plant native shrubs and trees.  It seems like lots of work to me, but I am happy to tag along and supervise.

If you’d like to volunteer and help spruce up the Dvoor Farm, my office people are having a clean up day on Saturday May 7th (9 am to noon). Email catherine@hlta.org for more info.

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