Year in Review: A WeedWise Annual Report
Another year in the books With the new year approaching, it is always good to take a moment to stop and reflect on our many accomplishments and challenges over the past year. Here at the WeedWise program we’ve been reflecting on the past year. To celebrate our accomplishments, the WeedWise Program has prepared an annual […]
Staff Spotlight: Samuel Leininger, WeedWise Manager
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 […]
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, […]
November’s Weed of the Month: Spurge Laurel
The Scourge of Spurge Laurel Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) is neither a spurge nor a laurel, but rather an invasive plant in the Daphne family. This perennial plant has poisonous berries, spreads aggressively in our native forests, and is increasingly being found in Clackamas County. Native to Europe, spurge laurel was introduced in Oregon as […]
They’re Alive! Are these brain-like blobs growing in a pond near you?
A reality stranger than fiction Straight out of a script from a classic 1950s horror film, a local pond is mysteriously overtaken by multitudes of gelatinous brain-like blobs. These blobs appeared, seemingly overnight to dominate a pond, causing immediate concern from the affected landowner. It is not hard to imagine that if you found these […]
Before and After: Blessed Milkthistle Management One Year Later
What a difference a year makes It was one year ago that we reported a large infestation of milkthistle (Silybum marianum) growing in a twenty-acre horse pasture outside of Wilsonville. At that time, the WeedWise program was approached by the resident for assistance in helping her to control the milkthistle. As a priority invasive weed […]
October’s Weed of the Month: Himalayan Blackberry
The Thorn in Our Side Himalayan blackberry (Rubus bifrons) tantalizes us with its sweet fruits in the summer and tortures us with its prickly vines all year long. Also known as Armenian Blackberry, this wide-spread and aggressive weed is native to Armenia and Northern Iran. It is considered an invasive species in many parts of […]
Plant Identification: What is that Weed?
Do you think you’ve found a noxious weed? Here is how you can get help to identify and report your find! One of the most important aspects in controlling invasive weeds is to verify the identification if invasive weeds before you work to control them. Knowing the difference between an aggressive weed and a common […]
September’s Weed of the Month: Knotweed
September is the Time to Control Japanese Knotweed Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) has been called a “nightmare” and a “botanical bully,” and is one of the 100 worst global invaders. These characterizations give you a pretty good idea of just how unwelcome this invasive weed is in our community. Japanese knotweed is fast growing and […]
August’s Weed of the Month: Puncturevine
Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) is aptly named! This invasive weed has spiny seed heads that can easily puncture a bike tire, inflatable raft, animal paw, or footwear. Be on the lookout because it is beginning to make its way into Clackamas County from eastern and southern Oregon. Also known as “goathead”, puncturevine is native to southern […]
