Water chestnuts are for plates, not lakes
The rosette of water chestnut leaves floats on the surface of the water.
(Photo courtesy of APIPP)
Deep summer signals the time to be on the water. Whether you’re boating or swimming, the lakes and ponds of the Adirondacks have few aquatic equivalents in the country for freshwater enthusiasts. In recent years Adirondack waters have been under a growing siege by aquatic invasive species. Headlines about this summer’s AIS included news of didymo, spiny waterflea and milfoil. Another species is leading a quiet march into the region: water chestnut. A single plant may not seem threatening, starting as a small, floating rosette of leaves; but, over time, a multitude of plants numbering in the thousands will result in acres of plants that create a virtual carpet on the water’s surface, halting access to boating, swimming, and fishing. Water chestnut (Trapa natans) is a Eurasian species, which is different than the Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) used in cooking. The Eurasian species was first introduced to the U..
» Full StoryWild hogs ... and I?don’t mean Harleys
Google “wild hogs” and you will find an advertisement for the 2007 movie “Wild Hogs,” starring Tim Allen and John Travolta. But, it is not these wild hogs I’m referring to; it is feral swine. That’s right. Feral swine are loose in New York stat.
» Full StoryCaught red handed: Poison parsnip
Have you seen a plant along the roadside about 4 feet in height with an airy flower that looks like Queen Anne’s Lace but is bigger and, instead of being white, it is yellow?
If so, you may be seeing wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa),...
Adirondack Invasive Species Awareness Week
(Editor’s note: In honor of Adirondack Invasive Species Awareness Week, this week’s “Eye on Invasives” column, by Hilary Smith, has been replaced by the event schedule for this week.
» Full StoryFalse spirea:?scenic or sinister?
False spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) is beginning to bloom. Not much information about this plant is found beyond gardening websites, but it may be a species to watch in the Adirondack region.
» Full StorySay hello to water stewards
The boating season is under way, and with it comes a high alert for dangerous introductions of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Luckily there are extra sets of eyes on the lookout for these plants and animals hitchhiking free rides into our waterways.
» Full Story
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