Invasive Plants or Trees

Regular readers of this feature will note that the vast majority of species highlighted here are not native to North America. This issue, however, looks at a Osage-orange, a species that is both native to North America and that has been introduced to new environments in such numbers that it is considered invasive in many areas.

In the News and Notes roundup for this issue: The tree nurseries in Maryland & Virginia are now taking orders for spring planting projects; the Old Growth Forest Network has a new site; the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has new species on its invasives roster; and the growth of food forests may help both ecosystems and people.

In this issue: Read about the how new and old can make a positive mix, and the importance of conserving existing forest buffers. Our two popular online courses return for the fall. Our "Native Trees of Maryland" looks at the red maple, and "Invasives in Your Woodlands" looks at Japanese hop. And don't forget the events calendar and the Brain Tickler challenge.

Read about a bunch of stuff I ain't writ yet. There's also the News and Notes summary about stories you might have missed, as well as our regular features the Woodland Wildlife Spotlight, Invasives in Your Woodland, and the Brain Tickler challenge. 

Canada Thistle is also known as creeping thistle, as well as green or perennial thistle, depending on the source. Others express their opinion about it by calling it hard thistle and cursed thistle. Canada thistle is an aggressive and colonial perennial, with both male and female plants. It is considered a noxious weed in Maryland and many other areas across the U.S.

In this issue: Help us learn more about our readers and subscribers by taking our short survey. Read about a potential ally in the fight against hemlock wooly adelgid, and how Marylanders can get a rebate for planting native trees. There's information about our spring session of "The Woods in Your Backyard" online course, plus our regular features: the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight" looks at the American beaver and "Invasives in Your Woodlands" looks at Princess tree. And don't forget the events calendar and the Brain Tickler challenge.

The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a colorful non-native, invasive pest native to Asia that was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. In addition to Pennsylvania, it has been confirmed in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Virginia. In Maryland, Cecil and Harford Counties are under a quarantine. The first instar hatch was recorded in Cecil County in May 2020.

There's news about our new website, as part of the University of Maryland Extension's rebranding efforts. There's also information about the Spotted Lanternfly and about the rebounding forestry industry in Maryland. Our regular features include profiles of the striped skunk in the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight" and lesser celandine in "Invasives in Your Woodland," as well as our events calendar and the Brain Tickler challenge. Plus, tidbits you may have missed, in the News and Notes section.

In this issue, read about the controversy surrounding glyphosate, as well as some good news for the Maryland forestry industry. Our regular features include the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight" and "Invasives in Your Woodland."