The Day - Green & Growing: A weed by any other name - News from southeastern Connecticut theday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Bird colony on Charles Island at risk, but there is hope
Jill Dion
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An invasive plant called mile-a-minute, which has been rearing its green vine around the state for a number of years, has proven to be the latest in what one environmentalist called “a perfect storm” of factors causing problems for the birds on Charles Island.
“Charles Island was once densely vegetated with tall trees and mid-canopy trees and shrubs,” said Jenny Dickson, supervising wildlife biologist with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). “Several hundred long-legged wading birds made use of every available spot for nesting. Now, scattered Norway maples and a few tree-of-heaven jut out from a largely open shrubland comprised mostly of invasive plants nettles, mile-a-minute, bittersweet, barberry and herbaceous vegetation all too short to provide nesting habitat for the rare birds that nest there.”
The Day - Relax in a Zen garden - News from southeastern Connecticut theday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Written by Lori Cochran-Dougall
On Thursday, January 28 the Westport Farmers’ Market will celebrate 2021 by hosting our annual seed exchange in honor of National Seed Exchange day.
“Collecting, sharing, and growing seeds saved by our very own shoppers, farmers, and vendors – especially heirloom varieties – involves the community personally in the promotion of local food and flora,” said Lori Cochran-Dougall, executive director of the WFM. “This year more than ever we want to seed the year with love and health.”
The public is invited to bring seeds they have saved from their own gardens or simply take home a few saved by others. WFM farmers will donate seeds from their favorite crops for the community to try at home. All seeds except those of invasive species are welcome, however, the market is requesting people to bring and take home heirloom or organic varieties.