Beautiful Green?

There’s still quite a bit of green out in the forests right now. In fact, the less healthy the landscape, the more green it is! This is because when Wisconsin’s native plants are dormant or preparing for winter, foreign invaders seize the opportunity. Yep, they’re still soaking up the sun while the locals slumber. Come spring, invasive plants wake early and build strength before native plants. By capitalizing on this extended growing season, invasive plants crowd out anything unable to compete.

Anyone discussing invasive plants realizes most people haven’t heard much about them. To many, green is just green. Standing in a forest engulfed in invasive honeysuckle and buckthorn looks like any green forest. Have you ever hiked with someone in a forest full of invasives, and said something like, “Wow, this is awful,” only to have them wonder why you’re criticizing the beautiful forest? Naturalist Aldo Leopold once wrote, “One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds.” Yup, It’s all perspective!

Next time you go for your hike, check it out. How’s the forest around your favorite hiking spot?

What can we do? Pull it out or cut it down! BUT, if cut, it’s crucial to apply appropriate herbicide to the stumps or it will return stronger.

OR, as some have said, we can just get over it and accept that invasives are here to stay.

What do you think?

Derrick Mayoleth

For nearly 2 decades the Skillet Creek blog has focused on 3 main goals; To inspire you to visit and explore the Devil’s Lake region, to help you get the most your visit by sharing tips, events, and other helpful information. Lastly to advocate for our environment & wildlife and talk about how we can keep our natural areas amazing now and into the future! That last goal can sometimes cause controversy, but it’s the only way we can accomplish the first two. – Derrick Mayoleth, Owner.