We Track Invasive Plants in Texas
Newest Events First
CTI - 1000th site - Karan Rawlins
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! On your 1000th Plus site!!! You GO, Girl!!! We have to do something special for that! (suggestions, anyone?)
You saw that right - a few months ago, Karan hit her 100th Invaders site. Now add a zero - she has reported more than 1,000 invasive plants to the database. That means Karan, all on her own, has reported one-fourth of all the 4,000 reports. Talk about dedication and energy. Thank you so very much, Karan.
She is also the host for the next Invaders class in our area - on Oct. 4th at the Ft Worth Nature Center.
Everyone, wish Karan a special thank you for all her hard work and dedication.
Thanks!
July 27, 2008
Please pass along to anyone you think might be interested, or chapter or club members.
Texas Invasives Training Class
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, 9am – 4pm –City of Plano Environmental Services Training Room
OR
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, 9am-4pm – Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
Invasive plants destroy more acres of native habitat than any other force, except human activity. The Invaders Program is an innovative campaign whereby volunteer "citizen scientists" are trained to help detect invasive plants in their own local areas. They deliver that information into a national database and to those who can do something about it. The premise is simple. The more trained eyes watching for invasives, the better our chances of lessening or avoiding damage to our native landscape.
The class will train volunteers to identify the invasive plants of our area and report them to the national database. The trackers will need a GPS unit and digital camera to record their data, and be able to upload it to the website. The class covers training in how to use the devises and website.
For more info and to sign up: http://www.texasinvasives.org/Citizen_Science/become.html
July 25, 2008
Summer 2008 News:
Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe in this heat.
Remember, if you have any questions about the Invaders, we are here to help.
Speakers Available:
We also have several speakers giving talks about Invasives. If you know of a group who would like to hear about them, let Marilyn know.
Speakers: Marilyn Sallee, Karan Rawlins, Dana Wilson
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News item:
This link to an article about Arundo Donax was sent to me by Ann Knudson. Thought it was interesting. :
http://www.utexas.edu/news/2008/07/15/arundo_biocontrol/
July 20, 2008
Cross Timbers Invaders BEST IN TEXAS!!
Watch those green site markers cover the North Central Texas area on the survey map!
Cross Timbers Invaders received special recognition from Damon Wait of the LBJ Wildflower Center. Not only are we the largest Invaders group, and the most active group per participant We have not one, but TWO of the most active Invaders in the state. In recognition of logging more than 100 sites each, Damon sent the high scorers a special "Mr. SmartyPlants" t-shirt, and a box of brochures, posters and note pads.
The Winners: Karan Rawlins & Marilyn Sallee wearing Mr. SmartyPlants shirts
Karan Rawlins works at the Fort Worth Nature Center and has taken on the huge chore of identifying the invasive plants in this patch of the Cross Timbers and along the Trinity River. She also gives regular classes at the Nature Center on identifying invasives. She also does public speaking engagements for Invasive Plants.
Marilyn Sallee is the Cross Timbers Invaders Coordinator and has given scores of talks to garden clubs, church groups, home owners associations and more about the Invaders and PlantWise programs. She holds the records for both the first Invader to reach 100 site reports and for the top two sites with the most invasives per site. The worst site recorded so far is Rockwall Park in Fort Worth with all five types of invasive privets, plus five more invasives in one tight group.
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May, 2008
Cross Timbers Invaders NEWS - Update March 2008
Lots still going on. We've had some updates to last month's announcements:
Updates:
- ACE site needs a project coordinator - Gary Hinds has graciously accepted this position. Expect to hear from Gary to set up workdays. Also, contact him if you would like to go out there yourself.
- GPS winners from the class - loaner unit available - the loaner unit has been claimed by Bill Harris for now. See photos of GPS winner below.
- Computer review class - one-on-one additional training in progress. If you want some private tutoring on the computer, or training on the new report sheet, contact Marilyn.
- Talks and programs spread the word faster than Kudzu - We now have three more new speakers for the Invasives and PlantWise:
- Karan Rawlins at Ft.Worth Nature Center
- Dana Wilson for the Dallas area
- Michelle Villafranca with Ft. Worth Parks
Cross Timbers Invaders NEWS - Feb. 2008 - So Much Going On!!!!
We have had so much happen in the last couple months that it is going to take this little newsletter to catch everyone up. Please look over the items to see how they affect you – whether you are an active Invader, a newbie who is still learning, or even one of our quite ones. There’s a lot of news applicable to everyone.
In This Special Issue:
- ACE site needs a project coordinator – it could be YOU
- GPS winners from the class – loaner unit available
- Ready for the computer review class? Please RSVP
- Talks and programs spread the word faster than Kudzu
- Jeff Quayle and the Invasives of Southwest Nature Preserve
ACE site needs a project coordinator – it could be YOU
We did a preliminary visit to this Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) 85 acre site in south Dallas before Christmas. They asked us to track the invasives so they can hire a contractor to remove them. Our visit showed that, yes, they have an assortment of invasives, but they do not have paths or trails, so it would involve a bit of bushwacking, mostly through prairie grasses and shrubby undergrowth.
Photos from our visit can be viewed at:
http://members.unitewireless.com/~marilynsallee/InvadersACE/index.htm
Invader sites #1234, 1237, 1256 & 1282 were recorded during that initial survey.
The site has some access restrictions – ACE needs to be notified in advance when people will be out there, surveys must be done in teams or groups of at least two or more, and the team must carry a copy of our access permit when on the property. The site has been used by auto strippers to work on and dump cars, so be aware of any activity while there. Also, the police may stop by and ask what you are doing – that’s why you need the access permit.
We have a full year to survey the area. Right now the evergreen privets are easy to spot, but as the year progresses many other invasives will become evident, so several visits in different seasons will be needed.
Where YOU come in – we need someone to head up this project, set days and times, coordinate teams, and be the contact person between ACE and CTI. This is the first Invaders/ACE partnership – you could be the leader here. Let Marilyn Sallee know if you are interested.
GPS winners from the class - loaner unit available
The class challenge for the first person to log ten validated sites was a huge success. Several new Invaders in each class raced each other to win that GPS unit.
Glen Rose class: Robert Theimer was the winner, but graciously gave the unit to Carrie McLaughlin, who came in second place.
Fort Worth Class: Jean Muncrief came in first place using a loaner GPS. She now has her very own GPS unit and has continued being very active.
View photos of the winner on our website at:
http://members.unitewireless.com/~marilynsallee/CTInvaders/events.html
Since Jean now has her very own GPS, the loaner unit is again available. If you do not have a GPS unit, let Marilyn know if you want to check this out. It is an old unit, but works well.
Ready for the computer review class? Please RSVP
We are still planning on having a technology review class for those unsure on how to do the computer part of the Invaders program. It will cover the digital photo size and transfer/ upload, how to check GPS coordinates on Google, entering data on the website, etc.
This class will be at the Technology Center in the Tarrant County Extension Office – same building where we had the Fort Worth class.
If you need some help or guidance on Invader technology or data entry, this is the brush-up for you. Please let me know if you want this so I know how many to expect and can schedule the room size. Class will have to be on a weekday, daytime.
If you need help and can not make a daytime class, or just have a few questions, email me. We can work something out to get your data entered.
Talks and programs spread the word faster than Kudzu
We have had many requests for program speakers on Invasive Plants. I have put together a program, using the base PowerPoint from Damon and the plant identification photos from our site. Since this is a general audience talk, it focuses more on the PlantWise program of what the homeowner can do to lessen the spread of invasives.
So far I’ve given this talk to students, garden groups, church groups, and even Master Gardener and Native Plant groups. I give out the PlantWise brochure as a handout. If you know of a group or organization that would like to hear about what they can do to stop invasives, let Marilyn know.
Jeff Quayle and the Invasives of Southwest Nature Preserve
Jeff Quayle, our local native plant identification expert and field trip leader, (most of you already know Jeff), has taken on his own invasives project and has put out a call for help. He is working on not only identifying the invasives, but also removing them. Below is his request.
If you would like to be part of this project, please contact Jeff directly.
Message from Jeff Quayle:
I am looking for volunteers and a couple of coordinators/leaders to supervise removal of invasive species at Southwest Nature Preserve in Arlington. Species of concern are Sweet-Breath-of-Spring/Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), Privets (Ligustrum sinense and L. quihoui) and Nandina (Nandina domestica). Workdays will be scheduled two days a month, including one weekday, probably on a Wednesday. The other on Saturdays. Until vegetation greens up in the spring, we will concentrate mainly on the Honeysuckle and the Nandina, since it is evergreen now. Then later on we will concentrate on the Privet. There is less of the Privet, except one large patch on the SE side.
I have visited the preserve since our last fieldtrip and have identified areas where the invasives are located. I also need to contact the city about options for removing the cut material from the preserve. Maybe the city could provide a haul off container. Once we start working on removing the large patch of privet, we may need gate access to haul the privet to a haul off container.
Once I get some responses, I will set up some workdays. I may be somewhat limited in the ability to do much work until my surgery is completed after April. But I will still show up to help get workdays rolling.
Today's visit yielded Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), and an unknown species of Yucca. Yaupon is rare in the wild in Tarrant County.
Jeff Quayle
s-quaylei@earthlink.net
Winners of the Class GPS Units
The November 2007 class challenge:
first person to log 10 verified sites wins their own GPS unit
What a great challenge this turned out to be. Immediately the new Invaders hit the ground running, taking photos and GPS readings, and logging the data as fast as can be. The Glen Rose class had that one-day headstart and several people competing against each other. It didn't take long. Within a few days we had winners both in Glen Rose and Fort Worth.
Winner of the GPS Unit , Fort Worth Class - Jean Muncrief
The competition in Glen Rose was most exciting, with extremely close calls by Henry Bogush, Carrie McLaughlin, and Robert Theimer. The official winner to get 10 validated sites first was Robert Theimer, but he was so nice to give the unit to Carrie McLaughlin, since Robert owned one already and Carrie did not. Invaders are such nice folks.
Winner of the GPS Unit , Glen Rose - Robert Theimer
Gave the unit to Carrie McLaughlin
Gary Hines, Robert Theimer and Carrie McLaughlin
Saturday, September 15, 2007, 8am to 1pm
Cross Timbers Invaders group invited to assist
leading volunteers to remove privet at Tillery Park
A neighborhood group would like to clear privet to improve visibility at their park & also to increase biodiversity there. There could be 100 volunteers or more. We’re using loppers & Remedy & the group will be split into cutting & dabbing teams.Contact Michelle Villafranca more details if you’re interested.
Michelle Villafranca
Forester, City of Fort Worth
4200 S. Freeway, Suite 2200
Fort Worth, Texas 76115
Ph: 817.871.5729
http://www.fortworthgov.org/pacs/fwpacsd/forestry/index.htm
Sunday, August 26, 2007 8am
Join Dallas Invaders @ Arbor HIlls
A reminder about us going out to Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano to do some invasive plant monitoring.I'm going to go with an 8am start. Hopefully, that's early enough in terms of the heat.
Here's a link to the park. This page has lots of info. including map links and the address.
http://www.plano.gov/Departments/parksandrecreation/Parks_Facilities/arbor_hills.htm
Dress for the heat and prepare for the bugs. Bring GPS, digital camera(if you have them) and water.
Let's meet at the Pavillion/picnic shelter area.
I look forward to seeing you there. Email or call (214-766-9176) if you have any questions.
Julie Collins of the Dallas Invaders
Previous Group Event:
We have been asked back by the City of Fort Worth.
March 29, 2007, 9am - 12 noon
Oakmont Park in SW Fort Worth, near Benbrook
The second Cross Timbers Invaders event had a small turnout, but we got a lot done despite the rain. The good news for Oakmont Park is that there were whole areas with no identifiable invasives to be found. However, good news for us was we found enough patches with multiple invasives for everyone to do several sites. We even had the opportunity to educate a couple of members of the public who were walking in the park. We also did some wildflower id and a geocache, and went over the recent changes in the program, had snacks and a great time.
Winner of the GPS Unit Drawing-- Linda Grey
The Crosstimbers Invaders first group event was a great success, with eight invaders out in the freezing cold, identifying plants and logging sites. Everyone got at least one site to log, and several have already put their data up on the website. Way to go!