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>>>>https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M8MZZ8N - and she'd v That's pretty much the local legend that I have heard too. People in other places seem to have similar stories. Where I lived in Quebec in the 1960s, there was some of it growing in a ditch right in front of a farm that kept rodeo animals -- bucking horses and Brahma bulls that were taken around to rodeos in the U.S. and Canada. I always figured that the stuff got its start from some kind of bedding that came back with the animals from somewhere -- just a guess, but it seems quite likely. Anyhow, it what once was a small patch in the 1960s, now stretches along the highway for many kilometres. It's been quite successful. Bev On 11/26/17, John and Nhung <nhungjohn@eastlink.ca> wrote: > Someone told me that big patch near the (former) railway crossing in > Annapolis was the result of a circus train accident decades ago. > > -----Original Message----- > From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] > On Behalf Of David > Sent: November 26, 2017 7:23 PM > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > Cc: David Webster > Subject: Re[4]: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites Research > > Hi Bev & All, > Is that patch of Phragmites by any chance located just west and south > of the road and railway bridge leading to Digby ? Back in the 50s, when I > collected in NS, that large very large patch and another in Antigonish Co. > were the only ones known (drawing on memory). I expect it has persisted at > Annapolis Royal because that swamp is tidal and few tall plants are that > tolerant of salt. > Those who get excited about "invasive species" should go look in a > mirror and reflect. > Yt, DW, Kentville > ------ Original Message ------ > From: "Bev Wigney" <bkwigney@gmail.com> > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > Sent: 11/26/2017 10:05:48 AM > Subject: Re: Re[2]: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites > Research > >>All, >> >>Regarding Phragmites -- Having resided in eastern Ontario for decades >>and having also seen what invasive Phragmites has done to wetlands in >>Ontario and Quebec, I think Fred's warnings are well worth heeding. >>Fred has been closely monitoring the spread of Phragmites for decades >>and probably knows more about it than just about anyone else in eastern >>Canada. Even based on my own casual observations, I know that, where >>once there were patches that could be measured in meters, many of those >>"patches" must now be measured in hectares of an impenetrable >>monoculture mass. Along freeways, it is measured not in >>meters but kilometres. I'm on the Field Botanists of Ontario >>Facebook group where Fred has also posted about the Phragmites survey >>and I can attest to the fact that in the comments, no one is saying >>"ignore it" or "live with it". Virtually everyone is talking >>*eradication* because we've all seen at least a few wetland areas in >>our regions completely destroyed by Phragmites as it chokes ditches and >>dries up wetland habitat. As mentioned in the article I've linked at >>the end of this post, the rhizomes are meters long with new shoots >>sprouting up along them. They also secrete soil toxins that destroy >>other plants -- see this link: >>https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071012084128.htm >> >>Now, I've only lived in the Annapolis Royal area a few years, but in >>this time, the "little patch" of Phragmites that I first saw in the >>late 1990s is now all over the place in the vicinity of the French >>Basic wetland trail. Again, something that once could have been >>measured in meters is now approaching the "measured in hectares" >>stage. Unfortunately, I don't think there has been much effort to try >>to do anything about it. I've asked around a bit and it seems like >>everyone knows it is a growing problem, but all are at a loss about >>what to do about it. >> >>Anyhow, here's a pretty good article on Phragmites, its impact on >>wetland habitat, farmland, etc.. and also on eradication efforts being >>attempted in Ontario: >>https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/climate-watch/phragmites-are-on >>tarios-worst-invasive-plants--but-the-phragbusters-are-on-the-case >> >>Bev Wigney >>Round Hill, NS >> >>On 11/25/17, David <dwebster@glinx.com> wrote: >>>Hi Fred & All, >>> Before the 101 series Highways were built, Phragmites was local >>>and uncommon in NS. The mowing along with wide and often wet ditches >>>with bare soil has generated Phragmites heaven. It is a great plant. >>>If left unmowed it will survive and generate bird habitat, especially >>>in winter. >>>Something breaks those culms and leaves down over a period of 2-3 >>>years and that implies a cascade of organisms.. >>> It has been widely used in the Netherlands for reclamation of >>>polders because it improves soil structure and therefore drainage. One >>>low corner of our garden was wet all summer; for 23 years. I planted >>>Phragmites there in 1991 and by 2000 that corner was well drained; >>>excellent soil structure. It is absent in the original corner because, >>>like most plants, it generates conditions which are unsuitable for its >>>needs. It is not a threat to anything but in ditches on a grade it may >>>be expected to decrease soil erosion and it will increase >>>infiltration; also desirable. >>> As dad used to say; "Don't pick that scab." >>>Yt, DW, Kentville >>> >>>------ Original Message ------ >>>From: "Douglas Guptill" <dguptill@accesswave.ca> >>>To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca >>>Sent: 11/25/2017 5:22:45 PM >>>Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites Research >>> >>>>Go away with your herbicides. >>>> >>>>Douglas >>>> >>>>On Sat, Nov 25, 2017 at 04:00:55PM -0500, Frederick W. Schueler >>>>wrote: >>>>>Maritimers, >>>>> >>>>>As some may recall, ever since I first found invasive European Reed >>>>>(Phragmites australis ssp australis) at Chatham, NB, in 2001, I've >>>>>been trying alarm Maritimers about the threat this invader poses to >>>>>coastal (and >>>>>inland) ecology, so that it can be controlled early on, when the >>>>>s