Author Archives: admin

Black Knot Fungus Looks Like a Burned Marshmallow on a Twig

While walking through a woodland, have you ever noticed the occasional black stuff on twigs that resembles burned marshmallows? A fellow master naturalist suggested the black stuff looks like scat on a stick.  The black stuff is neither of these but rather a … Continue reading

Posted in Black knot fungus removal, Buckthorn Control, Buckthorn Identification, Buckthorn Replacement Plants, Habitat Restoration, How to Identify Buckthorn in Your Woodland, Native Plant Species, native species, Native Woodland Plants, Non native invasive plants, Winter Identification of Buckthorn | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Buckthorn Removal in Minnesota

It seems to me that many folks removing buckthorn are not aware of how to effectively and economically apply herbicide. Often with the cut-stump method, the entire stump is painted or sprayed with herbicide when only buckthorn’s cambium layer is affected … Continue reading

Posted in Buckthorn Control, Buckthorn Control Methods, Cut-stump buckthorn removal method, Habitat Restoration, How to Identify Buckthorn in Your Woodland, Invasive Species, Non native invasive plants, Winter Identification of Buckthorn | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Buckthorn Replacement & Ground Cover

The fall colors of many native woodland plants are beginning to peak and native woodbine and Virginia creeper are no exception. It may be fun to compare their fall color in the photos below to photos taken earlier this season in our 6-27-12 blog … Continue reading

Posted in Buckthorn Control, Buckthorn Control Methods, Buckthorn Replacement Plants, Habitat Restoration, Native Plant Species, native species, Native vines to replace buckthorn removal site, Native woodland ground covers, Native Woodland Plants, Photos of blooming native MN plants, Vining species | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Identify Buckthorn in Your Woodland

The cooler temperatures of fall make it a great season to work on removing buckthorn. Many of our native trees and shrubs change leaf color and begin dropping their leaves in fall. This provides the buckthorn novice with better odds … Continue reading

Posted in Buckthorn Berry Characteristics, Buckthorn Control, Buckthorn Identification, Buckthorn Leaf Characteristics, Common Buckthorn Leaf Characteristics, Habitat Restoration, How to Identify Buckthorn in Your Woodland, Invasive Species, Native Plant Species, native species, Non native invasive plants, Winter Identification of Buckthorn | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Buckthorn Education

“Buckthorn Basics & Beyond” – City of Eden Prairie Community Ed Class Presented by Cheryl Jirik of Landscape Restoration, Inc. Saturday, October 6, 10:00 to 11:30 AM Learn how to rid your property of buckthorn and restore the native habitat … Continue reading

Posted in Buckthorn Control Methods, Buckthorn Identification, Canada Thistle control, Habitat Restoration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NON-NATIVE PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE CONTROL – Control Instructions with Photos

The purple/pink blossoming spikes of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) are so beautiful this time of year that I wish this plant could be native to our area. Those responsible for its intentional introduction felt the same way. In Europe and … Continue reading

Posted in Invasive Species, Native Plant Species, Non native invasive plants, Purple loosestrife control | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Look What I Found – Monarch Caterpillar

While walking through our prairie this weekend to take plant photos I stopped to admire the blossom on a swamp milkweed plant (refer back to previous blog article for photos and value of native milkweed plants) and found this adorable little … Continue reading

Posted in Monarch Butterly | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Native Flowering Rain Garden Plants – What’s Blooming in Mid-August

In spring of 2011, I bought an assortment of native Minnesota rain garden plants from the Rice County SWCD (Soil & Water Conservation District). For several years, I had wanted to convert a very small “wettish” area of my lawn … Continue reading

Posted in Native Plant Species, Photos of blooming native MN plants, Rain Garden Plants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vining Woodland Plant – Hog-peanut

Hog-peanut (Amphicarpa bracteata) is a delicate twining annual vine that may grow to 5’ in length, gently climbing onto and over nearby plants. Leaves are clustered into leaflets of three. Hog-peanut vine (Copyright 2012 Landscape Restoration, Inc.) At first glance, hog-peanut … Continue reading

Posted in annual native woodland plant, Native Plant Species, Native Woodland Plants, Poison Ivy, Vining species | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Woodland Plants – Non Woody Vines

Recently, I was able to find and photograph more vining woodland plants. The plants listed below are not “woody” vines but may still provide you with a rewarding experience if you can find and identify these species in your woodland. … Continue reading

Posted in Invasive Species, Native Plant Species, Native Woodland Plants, Non native invasive plants, Vining species | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment