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>>>>>s Hi John & All, That myth about the circus train was a way to explain how 'Elephant Grass' got to Annapolis Royal. Every circus has elephants who will demand their daily feed of Elephant Grass; right ? When I first saw it in the late 40's the stand was huge. Yt, DW, Kentville ------ Original Message ------ From: "John and Nhung" <nhungjohn@eastlink.ca> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Sent: 11/26/2017 8:07:53 PM Subject: RE: Re[4]: [NatureNS] Masters Student Conducting Phragmites Research >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 >>>>>stands are still small and scattered. - >>>>>http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.ca/2010/10/view-from-beausejou >>>>>r.html >>>>> >>>>>- >>>>>or look at everything in our blog at >>>>>http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.ca/search?q=phragmites >>>>> >>>>>In Ontario, where the invader spread like wildfire through the >>>>>1980s >>>>>and 1990s, action is now beginning to be taken by cutting and >>>>>herbiciding stands in wetlands and along highways, and there's even >>>>>more control effort in the States, where the problem (unrecognized >>>>>at the time) began in the 1940s and 1950s. >>>>> >>>>>Anamika Ray is doing her Masters research on “the technical >>>>>efficacy >>>>>and _social opinions_ on herbicide use as a best management >>>>>practice >>>>>for controlling Phragmites,” at the University of Toronto. >>>>> >>>>>She has an online survey of knowledge & opinions on Invasive >>>>>Phragmites which she'd appreciate having filled out by as wide a >>>>>range of people as possible - >>>>>https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M8MZZ8N - and she'd very much >>>>>appreciate Maritime participation in this. >>>>> >>>>>fred. >>>>>------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>> Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad >>>>> Fragile Inheritance Natural History Mudpuppy Night in >>>>>Oxford Mills - http://pinicola.ca/mudpup1.htm 'Daily' Paintings - >>>>>http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.com/ >>>>>4 St-Lawrence Street Bishops Mills, RR#2 Oxford Station, Ontario >>>>>K0G >>>>>1T0 >>>>> on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44* 52'N 75* 42'W >>>>>(613)258-3107 <bckcdb at istar.ca> http://pinicola.ca/ >>>>>------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>------------------------------------------------------------ >>> >>>
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