Plant ID Walk: Native and Invasive Species

Native plants aren’t the only flora found at the Great Marsh. Like many other wetland environments, invasive species are an ongoing problem for our unique ecosystem. Join Bradley Wrage, a self-taught naturalist, for a nature walk identifying and discussing the invasive species at the Great Marsh, how they affect indigenous species, and what resources are available to help. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small.

Additional Notes from Bradley:

Main topic (focus of the walk, main species to make an example of)- invasive species currently harming the environment from a tropospheric perspective.

Tangential topics (if pertinent, will discuss but will ultimately focus on the invasives), invasive species propagation and an introduction to troposphere education, host species, overcrowding/ shading out. Indigenous species with their benefits. Aesthetics over health (environmental perspective). What wetlands provide. And finally what resources are available for the struggle against

Invasive list:

•   Allium vineale
•   Multiflora rosa
•   Elaeagnus umbellata
•   Lonicera (genus) save for Lonicera sempervirens
•   Pyrus calleryana
•   Phragmites australis
•   Celastrus orbiculatus

The main topic is going to discuss the inherent destruction these introduced species have caused in our environment. Additionally, a simultaneous talk will progress about the natives and their benefits.

There are many on the property, forgive me for not listing all.

•   Quercus palustris
•   Salix nigra
•   Rosa palustris
•   Viburnum genus
•   Cercis genus
•   Etc..

There will also be additional information, when prompted about the foraging capacity of various species with the focus on invasives.

The main goal is to endure a sense of realization about the invasives in the area as well as an appreciation for natives.