Here is the out of focus purple that was in the background of photo # 2 yesterday. The purple loosestrife may be pretty to look at but it is an invasive species here in Maine and can be found growing everywhere. The reason it spreads so quickly is that one plant can produce up to two million seeds. I took these photos Sunday morning and coincidentally there was a news story that evening on one of the local channels about the loosestrife. This plant has become quite a problem in a lot of the wetlands in Maine. It originally comes from the Netherlands and has no natural enemies in this state, it crowds out native species. The news story had to do with the Maine Fish and Wildlife Dept. introducing a little brown beetle into the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge called the galerucella. The only thing the little beetle eats is loosestrife. The biologists are hoping this may be one of the solutions to reducing the amount of loosestrife in the refuge.
8 comments:
Big problems we have created moving everything all areound, huh? (Seems I read that house sparrows were brought here to eat farm pests) Better watch out for those beetles!
Yur little weed is pretty - in focus or out...BUT...I hope they can control it.
Good pictures, good story! - Isn't it interesting that such a beauty can be a threat?
Cheers, Klaus
Its such a beauty but yes a problem! Have you heard of Swallow Wart John? This plant runs chills up my spine...I've seen what it will do and it is all around my area...none found on my property yet thank goodness.
It's hard to look at something that beautiful and get upset about it. I'd probably wish I had some....and regret it. We don't understand "invasive" until it's in our own backyard. I don't know how many times I've regreted ever getting a rose of sharon or those little blue flag irises. I can't get rid of either now that I have them. Your photos are beautiful!
I hope the beetles don't cause a problem. Maybe when all the plants are gone, they'll die out? Beautiful pictures, weed or not.
This is my first visit to your blog. I have enjoyed looking over it. I will be back to read more. Thanks for sharing.
Great shots of a pretty flower. Too bad they grow like that even if they do make for a great picture. Reminds me of my morning glories. I pulled them up the same year I planted them and they come back every year ALL OVER the yard. Haven't been able to get rid of them and they take over everything.
Gosh, sad that a lovely plant like this is a threat. That first shot is like a watercolor painting! WOW! That would love beautiful framed!
Post a Comment