When people dump leaf and yard waste in the forest, they imagine it will do do no harm because it is an organic material and will break down. But they may be sowing the seeds of destruction, Simcoe County Forester Graeme Davis told a meeting on invasive alien plant species in late April. It is more problematic than garbage that we can pick up and remove, Davis said.

Another speaker was Orillia environmental consultant Bob Bowles. He pointed the finger at gardeners as key.

Dog strangling vine is on the watch list. It has only recently arrived in Simcoe County and besides being very aggressive, presents a threat to the monarch butterfly, already beleaguered by loss of habitat and climate change. Dog-strangling vine is a European member of the milkweed family and the monarchs are deceived into laying their eggs on the plant. Unfortunately, when the caterpillars emerge, they are unable to feed on the leaves and they die. People are also urged to join the Ontario Invasive Plant Council, which has a number of useful publications available free on request.

Volunteers are invited to come out for whichever morning suits them and spend some quiet time in a corner of the marsh where there has been an early summer pull for the last three years, since garlic mustard was first spotted there. The plants pull up easily at this stage, no tools required. I just cover up against bugs! For more information call 705-322-2545.

This article is a condensed version of one that first appeared at: link