Stiltgrass has taken over much of Hampshire County unused or recently disturbed land. It's surprisingly to pull stiltgrass, but it's everywhere. Pull it or mow it now before seeds form or you'll add another year or two to your fight!
It's not hard to identify after you see it a time or two. The key is
that silver vein that runs up the middle of the leaf. This is a
non-native invasive plant that's all over the county and, if you have a
yard, there's a good chance it's there. The roots aren't deep, so it's
easy to pull out of the ground. Here's more good information about
stiltgrass and getting rid of it: http://bit.ly/2z6MYbR
Fellow farmers, river advocates, and others: let
me know if you're interested in collaborating concerning the South
Branch or my help (or current and former Watershed or Biodiversity grad
students) in anything involving the Upper Potomac. I have about six
ideas and would enjoy some influencers on identifying shared priorities. West Virginia is nearly ALWAYS underrepresented at these events.
Jim@WoodHouseResearch.org or Jim@SouthBranchPotomac.org
We began growing female Ginkgo trees at the Wood House Farm in 2007 for a USDA researcher when concern for genetic diversity became a concern. Ginkgo trees are the oldest known tree species on Earth and have no close relatives.
The project, "Fossil Atmospheres," is unique in both its scale and level of citizen science involvement.
(Rich Barclay)
Modern ginkgo leaves closely resemble fossilized specimens.
(Scott Wing) Citizen scientists can spot ginkgo leaves based on their distinctive fan-shaped appearance.
(Rich Barclay)
Urban planners love Ginkgo trees (Ginkgo biloba) almost as much as our (Gleditsia triacanthos), but they only like male Ginkgos. Nurseries guarantee male Ginkgos through cuttings, which is functionally cloning, and that quickly reduces genetic diversity.
Ginkgo has survived three mass extinctions, including the one that killed the dinosaurs. (Rich Barclay)
Smithsonian Scientists Are Using Ginkgo Leaves to Study Climate Change—They Need Your Help
Citizen scientists can submit leaf samples from their hometowns through the end of August
The next time you venture into the great outdoors, keep an eye out for Ginkgo bilobatrees,
which can be easily identified by their distinctive fan-shaped leaves.
If you find one—and you likely will, as the
Stiltgrass has taken over much of Hampshire County unused or recently disturbed land. It's surprisingly to pull stiltgrass, but it's everywhere. Pull it or mow it now before seeds form or you'll add another year or two to your fight!
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