State, national groups partner to combat invasive species in Mo.
State, national groups partner to combat invasive species in Mo. By Ashley Smith | May 14, 2021 at 3:35 PM CDT - Updated May 14 at 6:12 PM
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KFVS) - Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have partnered with state and federal groups to combat invasive species in Mo.
The partnership, called the Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership, was developed to focus on the Scenic River Region which includes the Current, Jacks Fork and Eleven Point rivers.
They chose this area because it is one of the state’s most ecologically diverse landscapes.
While the region has few invasive species, some parts have established invasive species.
DEAR AMOR: Lately, I have been seeing social media posts about homeowners cutting down their Callery pear trees. Why is that? Cities and businesses have these trees as well. What could be wrong with such magnificent and beautiful trees blooming for us early in spring? â Jean
DEAR JEAN: Callery pear trees are known to be native in Vietnam, Taiwan, and China. It is also called by several cultivar names such as Bradford pears, Cleveland pears, Aristocrat pears and many other names. However, it is mostly referred to as the ornamental pear. Itâs the first tree with white flowers blooming profusely in springtime, much like âpopcorn popping on a pear tree.â It will later bear tiny pears, about a half inch in diameter, that birds love to eat.
By Amor Chamness Cook
DEAR AMOR: Lately, I have been seeing social media posts about homeowners cutting down their Callery pear trees. Why is that? Cities and businesses have these trees as well. What could be wrong with such magnificent trees blooming early in spring? Jean
DEAR JEAN: Callery pear trees are known to be native in Vietnam, Taiwan and China. It also is called by their cultivar names as Bradford pears, Cleveland pears, Aristocrat pears and other names. However, it is mostly referred to as the ornamental pear. It’s the first tree with white flowers blooming profusely in springtime, much like “popcorn popping on a pear tree.” It later bears about half-inch diameter tiny pears that birds love to eat.
Springfield News-Leader
With a plethora of invasive Callery pears planted across the state, conservation officials are offering a buyback program with a free replacement tree pickup in Columbia. All people have to do is send in at least one photo of each Callery pear tree they cut down and register.
“Callery pears have been a tree many people have enjoyed for years,” said Ann Koenig, MDC Community Forester, via news release. “However, besides the fact that these trees often break apart in storms, and that they have foul-smelling flowers, it turns out these trees are spreading throughout fields and forests, causing problems in our more natural areas. We are excited to work with our partners to provide great, native trees to those who are ready to replace them.”
Missouri task force wants to free state from the smell of… well, you know what
April 8, 2021
A Missouri task force wants to buy back all the stinky Callery pear trees in St. Louis. // Image courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden
So…you know that smell that’s normally present in the air every spring? A Missouri task force plans to do something about that.
The Missouri Invasive Plant Task Force is collaborating with Forest ReLeaf of Missouri and BiodiverseCity St. Louis to free St. Louis of the “foul-smelling” Callery pear trees known by various other less pleasant names. The task force will buy the trees beginning April 20 and replace them with other ecologically-friendly trees.