Time to put on the flannels, get outside and go after invasive shrubs like buckthorn, exotic bush honeysuckle, japanese barberry and autumn olive. There will be one more DCIST work party this month taking place at the new Kreuter Preserve in southern Door (see calendar below). This is an excellent opportunity to learn how to properly identify and control woody invasives – not to mention the good work you will be doing to help restore some breathtaking Lake Michigan shoreline!

Scotch Pine

And don’t forget to cut yourself an invasive scotch pine for a holiday tree, wreaths and boughs. Scotch pine are weedy and aggressive, crowding out native pines while sometimes helping to harbor and spread pine disease. Unlike our native white and red pines, the habitat value of scotch pine is limited and its wood has little commercial value. The good news is scotch pine is just about the easiest non-native plant to remove – just cut it off low enough (leave no green growth) and no herbicide is necessary.

Wisconsin’s DNR provides four new online videos that can help landowners and others identify and control three of Wisconsin’s most common and problematic invasive plants. The videos, all of which are under 3 minutes in length, can be found on the Take Action on Invasive Species Webpage.

In addition to a general video, 3 other videos focus on buckthorn, garlic mustard, and honeysuckle – invasives that are particularly problematic in Wisconsin. These invasive plants compete for water and nutrients with trees and native plants, often crowding out desirable growth and negatively affecting wildlife. The videos help viewers identify the invasives and demonstrate the safe use of herbicides to rid an area of the invasive plants.

A big thanks… goes out to all of you who, through your hard work controlling invasives and diligent record keeping, have helped DCIST to successfully match our 2008-2009 state grant funding. This grant cycle is coming to end and we will be able to close yet another successful chapter. Thank you for ALL your actions and support! You Are DCIST! Your consistent efforts have helped the Door County Conservation Department receive another 2-year Aquatic Invasive Species Grant, so look forward to a continuation of activities through December 2011.

Please come to Crossroads on Monday December 14 and share some well earned Holiday cheer and camaraderie at the DCIST Holiday Social. Bring a snack or beverage to share and enjoy a Native Landscaping Presentation by expert Native Landscaper Cliff Orsted.

DCIST Events Calendar:

Monday, December 14, at 3 pm (not the usual 2 pm start!)
Natives To The Rescue! Establishing Native Plants Following Removal of Invasive Species by native landscape expert Clifford Orsted
at Crossroads At Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay

Join us for Holiday cheer and well-earned camaraderie after a busy year tackling invasives. If you feel so inclined, bring a snack, beverage or holiday treat to share. Enjoy a presentation by Cliff Orsted who will discuss enhancing biodiversity on your property and will share practical, effective strategies and considerations to guide you in successfully re-vegetating sunny, shady and wetland areas of your landscape with natives following removal of invasive species. His slide show includes fantastic Door County natives that are unknown to many of us or often overlooked. Cliff will also share his gardening history from growing up as a farm boy through the establishment of his landscape and nursery business.

Cliff Orsted operates Door Landscape & Nursery, specializing in sustainable landscaping with native plants, many of local genotype. He is also Education Chair and Membership Coordinator for the Door County Chapter of Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, a national nonprofit environmental education and advocacy organization (www.for-wild.org).

Thursday, December 17 (bad weather date: Friday, December 18) 1pm – 4pm
Stewardship opportunity ~ Southern Door Glossy Buckthorn Workparty:
DC Land Trust Kreuter Preserve, Lake Michigan shoreline

South Lake Michigan Drive: From Sturgeon Bay, take County U south of 42/57 to intersection of Mt. Lookout Rd (east) and County OO (west), turn left (east) on Mt. Lookout, drive to S. Lake Michigan Dr, turn left, and meet at the parking area in the open field.

Learn how to ID and treat woody invasives. Join the Door Stewardship Alliance and DCIST to tackle glossy buckthorn and some shoreline exotic bush honeysuckle on the new Kreuter Preserve located on S. Lake Michigan Drive. This is a golden opportunity to get to visit and help start the restoration process at one of the Door County Land Trust’s premiere properties. DCIST will provide the necessary tools, including the Shrub Grubber, a new shrub removal shovel. This new device is still in the testing phase. We are seeking user feedback. . . come and give it a whirl.

Dress for the weather, wear gloves, hats and sturdy shoes/boots. Questions? Contact Bob Bultman 920.421.2283.

Volunteerism, donations and grant dollars sustain the DCIST effort. DCIST generally meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 2pm. To make a donation, set up a training session for your association or group, inquire about our Equipment Loan Program, or to be added to the mailing list, please contact the coordinator: dcist1@gmail.com or phone 920.746.5955. Please visit the Door County Invasive Species Team Website for an ongoing schedule of events.