Spotted Knapweed has become a problem on Wisconsin Point. The pervasive invasive has been getting some special attention as of late and will be the focus of a community event on Saturday, July 19th.
"Spotted Knapweed is an invasive plant in this area," says Melissa Burke, Resilience Specialist with Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve. "It is allelopathic which means it can put out compounds into the soil that make it really hard for other plants to grow and germinate their seeds." The plant originates from Eurasia and has a tendency to take over land areas and create a monoculture.
The timing of this Saturday's event is deliberate and strategic. Removing the plant before going to seed is vital for the future of restoring the area. "The more we can get out now, the better," says Burke. Due to the chemical nature of the plants, participants are asked to wear long pants, long sleeves and gloves.
The Spotted Knapweed pull is taking place from 9:30am-noon on Saturday, July 19th at parking lot 5 (near the lighthouse) on Wisconsin Point. Registration is not required but may be helpful for organizers to bring the appropriate number of tools and snacks.
Learn more and register on the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve website.
You can hear Green Visions at 8:20am every Wednesday on Northland Morning.
