Childhood Trees and Fond Memories
Growing up, I had two favorite trees in our yard. The first was a giant elm next to the house that held my tire swing. Sadly, it did not survive the dreaded emerald ash borer. My second favorite was a mimosa tree on the edge of my parents’ property. Its delicate leaves and fluffy pink blooms felt magical, and the sweet scent always hung in the air during summer.
Even Pretty Plants Can Be Invasive
It was not until much later that I learned mimosa trees, while beautiful, are actually ornamental imports from Asia. They are considered terribly invasive in the tri-state, and locals are encouraged to chop them down. At the time, I did not even know what “invasive” meant. People were planting Bradford Pears like it was their job. I never planted one myself because they smell like fish in the spring, but I didn’t cry when the one that came with my house toppled over in a thunderstorm.
Why Invasive Species Are a Problem
The trouble with invasive species is that they spread quickly, are difficult to eliminate, and push out native plants. Unfortunately, the Town of Newburgh and the Warrick County Soil & Water Conservation District recently posted that there is a new invasive species in town, and it is up to us to help control it.
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What Is Common Teasel
The plant is called Common Teasel, and its seed head looks like a spiky flower. According to invasivespeciesinfo.gov, it was first introduced to the United States in the 1800s. It was cultivated for use in textile processing or may have been introduced accidentally with other varieties of teasel. The problem with teasel is that it crowds out native plants.
Warrick County Soil & Water Conservation‼️‼️WANTED ‼️‼️This invasive is becoming established in Warrick County, time to FIGHT BACK!#warrickswcd #WarrickCounty #Indiana #teasel #invasivespecies #WANTED…