Invasive weeds can be extremely damaging and pose a real threat to the social, economic, and ecological health of our communities. One important tool for controlling large infestations of invasive weeds is herbicides. Industrial herbicides have been used to manage large infestations of invasive weeds since the 1940s, but their use is problematic for some […]
Author Archive | Sam Leininger
The Undesirable Beauty of Lesser Celandine
Each spring we welcome the return of abundant flowers and cherish them as they lift our spirits. Unfortunately, some of these beautiful plants have proven to be aggressive and ultimately highly unwanted. Look out for this one! One such menace is Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) which displaces more desirable plants in lawns, gardens, parks, and […]
Its National Invasive Species Awareness Week!
National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 28-March 4, 2022) kicks off today! Each year, folks around the country take a week to consider the many impacts that non-native invasive species have on our communities, working lands, natural areas, and pocketbooks. So take a moment to celebrate with the WeedWise Program to learn a little more […]
February’s Weed of the Month: Scotch Broom
February is the one month of the year that many of us associate with love and romance. We cut out paper hearts for Valentine’s Day cards and wrap cut flowers for that special person in our lives. But there is another reason to celebrate. February 14th is also Oregon’s birthday! Way back in 1859, Oregon […]
Year in Review: A WeedWise Annual Report 2021
We are celebrating another year in the books! This past year is certainly one that none of us will soon forget. A year shaped by a global pandemic, social and political unrest, wildfire recovery, and an ice storm that has raged across Clackamas County, 2021 is certainly a year best viewed in hindsight. Despite all […]
Naughty and Nice for 2021
We’ve been making a list, And checking it twice, Now its time to find out Who has been naughty and nice! It is a WeedWise tradition for each of our staff to select our annual “Naughty and Nice” plants for the year. Check out the latest from our staff in this fun holiday tradition! Sam’s […]
December’s Weed of the Month: English Holly
English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a popular evergreen frequently noticed during the month of December when festive decorators “deck the halls with boughs of holly”. For many people, the shiny, dark green leaves and red berries of holly are synonymous with the holiday season. This popular plant, however, is not native to Oregon. In fact, […]
Request for Proposals: Priority Invasive Weed and Vegetation Management
The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD) is looking for qualified contractors to perform invasive weed control, and restoration planting on multiple project sites within Clackamas County. Categories of work may include: Manual Site Preparation and Maintenance; Mechanical Site Preparation and Maintenance; Planting; Survey and Monitoring; Aquatic Site Preparation, Maintenance, and Survey and Monitoring; […]
Tree-of-Heaven Falls Far from the Name
If you start looking around Clackamas County, it won’t take you long to find the invasive tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). This state-listed noxious weed is increasingly more common in many of our urban areas where it flourishes. Tree-of-heaven seems right at home in alleys, roadsides, railways, vacant lots, that crack in the sidewalk. Very large trees […]
Staff Spotlight: Courtney Gattuso, WeedWise Specialist & CWMA Coordinator
Get to know the WeedWise program, through our people! The success of the WeedWise program is in great part due to the hard work and dedication of our staff. If you have ever called the office or stopped by for assistance with your weed problems, you have undoubtedly worked with one of our hard-working employees. […]