Roadsides as runways: trend spotting invasive plants

Purple loosestrife as a roadside attraction.
Dee Salomon
Purple loosestrife as a roadside attraction.
I can’t help but notice the roadside plants while I am driving. This spring, after an otherwise violent brush cutting along Route 7, I spotted a large and glorious patch of trillium; the other day I noticed that the super-spreader Japanese stiltgrass has taken over the sides of a local thoroughfare that shall not be name-shamed. Roadside plants are both a seasonal timestamp and a leading indicator of what invasives we will soon be grappling with inside the boundaries of our own properties. A kind of drive-by trend spotting.
A new-ish umbellifer dotting the roadsides this summer, Wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa, is a tall, fennel-shaped invasive that has, thankfully, now withered to a brown skeleton. For cyclists this summer it was a surprise, then a worry. Skin contact with the plant can cause burns and blistering welts. If it gets into the eye it can even cause blindness.
The plant that is currently engaging my peripheral vision from the road is purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria. By the time you read this it will be winding down its blossom and going to seed. One is forgiven for not taking this one seriously; with its skinny stems and distractingly vibrant flowers it is arm candy to the native goldenrod it often accompanies. I saw it in a bouquet at a dinner last week and thought that we should all be making purple loose strife bouquets in an effort to stop its spread. True to its name, this loosestrife is a troublesome invasive that bullies out native neighbors with a combination of its dense perennial rootstock and prolific seeder. According to the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group, a mature plant can produce more than 2.5 million seeds annually.
Purple loosestrife is most often seen in wetland areas; its seeds can germinate even after a couple of years spent under water. Cut it down to prevent the seeds from spreading; it is hard to pull out by the root. If you only have a few, consider using a shovel to dig out the roots, which you will need to do consistently over a few years. It does get better. Chemical control, especially in wetlands, is best left to a professional.
There have been attempts at biological control against purple loosestrife; four types of insects were approved for release in Connecticut years ago to slow down the plant’s spread including a leaf eating beetle and a root eating weevil. My sense was, over the last few years, populations of the invasive plant were declining. This year, perhaps due to the mild winter or the heavy rainfall, it seemed to be everywhere.
There are both native and invasive loosestrifes co-existing in our area so a quick lesson to help you distinguish between them. There is a smaller, paler purple-flowered native called Winged loosestrife, Lythrum alatum, that I have never seen here and would like to know if any readers have encountered the species nearby. If you have, please send me an email at dee@theungardener.com
The other three are all yellow-flowered. Yellow loosestrife, Lysimachia vulgaris, is the invasive type. Like its purple relative, it grows in full sun and prefers wetlands. The yellow flower has more of a golden hue than that of its native relatives, Fringed loosestrife, Lysimachia ciliata, and Whorled loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia. Both of these native plants have distinctly paler yellow flowers that are less abundant on the stem than they are with the invasive type. Fringed loosestrife is abundant on the banks of the Housatonic where we live but so is the invasive version which I admit to not identifying it in time to keep it from establishing a robust stand in an area where I cannot shovel out the roots without causing erosion to the area. I will keep cutting it and see how it responds.
Back to the earlier-mentioned Japanese stiltgrass. If you intend to eradicate this prolific plant now is your last opportunity before it spreads its seeds, which are emerging from its slender stems. Consider first the area where it resides. In meadows and lawns you will do well to pull it out rather than weed whack so that there is no chance of seeding. Be sure to get your fingers down near the ground before you tug as the stem is as thin as a thread and will easily break with the root still in the ground. Not a disaster but it does risk re-growth this fall. For large and dense swaths, a weed torch will work wonders so long as you use with caution and safety measures. Remember to use this method only after a rain or early in the morning when the dew is thick and fallen leaves are not easily flammable. Always have a fire blanket or other fire eradication system by you. Perhaps most importantly, to avoid stiltgrass infestation, ask your lawn care company to hose down their mowers before starting to mow your lawn. This time of year stiltgrass seed will travel on mowers from other people’s lawns to new spots.
The shrub and small tree called Burning bush, Euonymous alatus, is the next invasive plant to put on a show for us on the roadside runway with its brilliant bluish-red and then pink leaves trying to distract driving eyes. Don’t succumb – eyes on the road!
Dee Salomon ‘ungardens’ in Litchfield County.
Canaan Co-ed Softball ended its second summer season Sunday, Aug. 24, when Quit Your Pitchin’ (pictured above) won the championship game. The four-team league plays games at Segalla Field and includes area athletes aged 18 and up. It was founded by Tony Viscariello Jr. last year in collaboration with North Canaan Recreation Commission. “I would love more teams to join in the future and hopefully keep growing. 2026 is going to be bigger and better,” Viscariello Jr. stated in a press release. Those interested in joining the league can call 860-248-0694.
Volunteers Laurie, Ashley, Hannah, Brendan, and Leah.
I recently enjoyed joining a group of people at the Miles Wildlife Sanctuary to participate in Sharon Audubon Center’s Purple Martin bird banding.
The sanctuary is the perfect location for clusters of their gourd-shaped homes because they are colony-nesting birds and prefer open areas with clear paths for flight or swooping. Access to water helps them find food more easily. Surprisingly, Purple Martins also like to be near human activity.
Long before Europeans arrived, Indigenous people noticed that Purple Martins moved into gourds they had hung up to dry. They found that the birds, which primarily eat flying insects, would help protect their crops and villages from potential predators and pests. When European settlers arrived, they also put up gourds and homemade nesting structures for the birds.
Historically, throughout most of the U.S., Purple Martins nested in natural tree hollows, old woodpecker holes, and cliff crevices near water. Out West, two subspecies continue to nest in natural cavities like hollow trees or even the arms of saguaro cacti. In the eastern US, however, habitat loss and competition with non-native species, such as English House Sparrows and European Starlings, have resulted in the Eastern subspecies nesting almost exclusively in man-made boxes. They are now dependent on these artificial structures for their survival.
With impressive dedication, some people from the Kent Land Trust and Marvelwood School have volunteered for decades to study and restore inland populations of martins. They organize and teach young people associated with various conservation organizations on how to manage housing for Purple Martins, enhancing their survival.
During banding, each bird gets a silver federal ID band on one leg. On the opposite leg, the young birds receive colored bands to identify the bird’s birth colony. The color code for Sharon Audubon’s Miles Wildlife Sanctuary consists of a gold metal alpha/numeric band paired with a blue plastic band.Mary Close Oppenheimer
A binder with images of the birds at different ages is used to determine the age of the birds. The ones we banded were 11 to 22 days old.Tail and back feathers change daily, making dating them quite easy. While I was there, in addition to banding, the baby birds were counted and their ages were recorded. They usually fledge 26-32 days after hatching.
The Center tries to track the birds’ migrations to South America. It turns out that most go to Brazil. Some have radio transmitters attached, which track them whenever they pass a location with a signal. Some have a GPS device attached, which gives detailed migratory information if they are able to retrieve the device.
Purple Martins have experienced a significant population decline in recent decades, making monitoring crucial for identifying potential causes. Counting helps determine the impact of threats such as pesticide use, competition from other species, and changing weather patterns. By tracking population changes, researchers can evaluate the success of conservation strategies, such as providing artificial nesting structures and protecting wintering grounds.
Checking a martin nest.Mary Close Oppenheimer
There’s good news: increasing populations of martins in the northwest corner of Connecticut are beginning to pay dividends. An adult banded bird (from Miles Wildlife Sanctuary), along with another banded bird yet to be identified, was discovered by Jonathan Pierce to be breeding in an abandoned martin house near Stockbridge, MA. It is the first breeding record for Berkshire County since 1895!
It’s been fun to watch the activity in some bluebird nest boxes the Sharon Audubon Center installed on our property a few years ago. Since purple martins thrive around human activity, I’m now hoping they can also find a good spot nearby for a cluster of their homes.
The Audubon Center is a wonderful resource for learning about birds and nature. They and their collaborators are happy to teach us what we can do to help these beautiful creatures survive.
*All banding is conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey and state permits.
Debunking 10 myths of ambulance service
Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service headquarters is located at 8 Undermountain Road in Salisbury.
Most of us who serve on the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service (SVAS) feel that we get back at least as much as we give — not only useful skills, but a true sense of purpose, a deep connection to our town and neighbors, and the pride that comes from helping people in some of their hardest moments.
We believe many more would join us, but for some persistent myths about ambulance training and service.We’re grateful for the opportunity to address those here.
Myth No. 1:The training is long.
Fact: EMR training is 60 hours: two nights per week for two months.The result? Incredibly useful skills you can use in any emergency situation anywhere.
Myth No. 2: Training is expensive.
Fact: Training is FREE if you commit to joining SVAS (or the Norfolk squad).
Myth No. 3: I don’t have enough time.
Fact: We are flexible with our scheduling. Some of us put ourselves on the duty schedule, and others “listen in” to the radio and respond when available.Some do nights, some only do daytimes.What we need are active, committed members who are willing to help cover our calls, whether in blocks of time or on a more ad hoc basis.And all of us have other commitments - we are teachers, business owners, lawyers, town employees, web designers, contractors, parents, grandparents, and more. We all do what we can, when we can.
Myth No. 4: Volunteers must stay at headquarters when on call.
Fact: We take calls from where we are - home, work, headquarters or elsewhere.We each have radios and pagers, as well as a phone app, that alert us and allow us to respond from anywhere.
Myth No. 5: I might be all alone on an ambulance call.
Fact: We always work in teams when responding to emergencies. You’ll be supported by other more experienced members - in fact, as an EMR, you are required to have at least one EMT (who has more training) join you on any ambulance response.During your training, you’ll also be given a mentor from the squad to help teach and coach you.
Myth No. 6: I can’t drive that huge ambulance.
Fact: Driver training is separate and optional (although encouraged). You won’t drive until after you become a certified EMR and successfully complete the additional training.
Myth No. 7: I’m not good in emergencies.
Fact: Most of us had no previous medical background.Training gives you the necessary skills, as well as a tried-and-true, systematic approach to dealing with emergencies. These will give you the confidence to get out there and start helping people. You’ll also never be asked to do more than you’re comfortable with or can handle.
Myth No. 8: I could never have someone’s life in my hands.
Fact: We love “Grey’s Anatomy” and “House M.D.” but TV medical dramas make field emergency care seem much more complicated than it is.Our main job is simple: stabilize our patients, make them as comfortable as we can, and get them safely to the hospital.We aren’t solving medical mysteries or performing tracheotomies with ballpoint pens.
Myth No. 9: Now you’ve made it sound boring.
Fact: On the contrary!Our town may be small, but we handle it all - falls, illnesses, motor vehicle accidents and extrications, Appalachian Trail rescues, cardiac emergencies and strokes, hazmat incidents, even childbirth.If it can happen, it has probably happened here.This work is often exciting, but even when a call is low acuity or routine, you will learn something.Regardless, you will be providing priceless comfort and reassurance to your patients and their loved ones.
Myth No. 10: Someone else will do it.
Fact:Simply put: if we want our volunteer ambulance service to remain operational and free to all, we need more volunteers.Some of our members have been on the squad for decades and will be retiring.And life happens - members move away, or their circumstances change.Having more members join us is mission critical.
Find us at salisburyambulance.org or salisburyambulance1971@gmail.com. Barrie Prinz is president of the Board of Trustees. For more coverage on Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service and information on how to join, turn to Page A3.