News & Events
CIPWG Update for February 2003
  1. Sincere thanks to all who assisted with and participated in the first CIPWG Invasive Plant Symposium on November 7 in Burlington, CT. We also would like to thank the speakers for their excellent presentations and the exhibitors for sharing valuable information. The room was filled to capacity, and we regretted having to turn so many people away in advance due to space limitations. We hope to continue with a symposium every two years. Susan Faulkner wrote a summary article about the symposium that was recently published as the cover story for the January 2003 issue (Vol. 46, No. 4) of the Connecticut Horticultural Society Newsletter. The article can be viewed by clicking here.

  2. The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show will be held February 20-23, 2003 at the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford, CT. CIPWG will have exhibit space for our 3-panel display, handouts and other materials. We need you to volunteer a few hours of your time to help out at this exhibit. Penni Sharp will again be coordinating the schedule, so please contact her at pensharp10@aol.com or via phone at (203) 484-0134. The following dates and times are available:

    Wed. Feb. 19th: Set-up, anytime between noon and 7:00 p.m.
    Thurs. Feb. 20th: 12:00 noon-3:00 p.m., 3:00-6:00, 6:00-9:00
    Fri., Feb. 21st: 10:00 a.m.-12:00, 12:00-3:00, 3:00-6:00, 6:00-9:00
    Sat. Feb. 22nd: 10:00 a.m.-12:00, 12:00-3:00, 3:00-6:00, 6:00-9:00
    Sun. Feb. 23rd: 10:00 a.m.-12:00, 12:00-3:00, 3:00-5:00 (dismantle exhibit)

    We have also been asked to present two seminars on invasive plants at the Flower and Garden Show on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. We will be featuring the invasive slide show and accompanying text developed by Greg Waters from the Weir Farm National Historic Site for these seminars. Kathrine Neville has graciously volunteered to give the Sunday seminar and we need a volunteer to do the Friday evening seminar. Contact Penni Sharp or Donna Ellis is you are available to present the seminar on Friday. Visit the Northeast Promotions web site at http://www.northeastpromo.com for more information about the show.

  3. The January 2003 revision of the CIPWG "Non-native Invasive and Potentially Invasive Vascular Plants in Connecticut" (Mehrhoff, L.J., K.J. Metzler, & E.E. Corrigan. 2003) has been published. This 'green' list (printed on green paper) features giant hogweed on the cover page. The list can be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking here.

  4. A new publication is now available, "Native Alternatives for Invasive Ornamental Plant Species". Edited by Timothy M. Abby of The Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station for the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group, the publication features color photos and descriptions of native plants that can be used as alternatives for five plants considered invasive in Connecticut and other states. The PDF version of the publication can be downloaded by clicking here.

  5. Senator Andrew Roraback will continue to spearhead efforts to introduce invasive plant legislation. You can track progress of the legislation on the State of Connecticut web site (http://www.cga.state.ct.us/). Enter Bill No. 654 for the year 2003 or Bill No. 401 for 2002 for more information. A second Bill (No. 5305) has been introduced this session by Rep. Roberta Willis.

  6. The Weir Farm National Historic Site will be hosting an exhibit of illustrations of invasive plants in Connecticut by a guild of natural science illustrators. The exhibit, "Invasive Botanicals: Beauty and the Beast" will run from March 5th through May 18th, with an opening reception March 9th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. The Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Contact Meghan Scanlon at (203) 761-9945 for more information.

  7. IPANE (Invasive Plant Atlas of New England) is looking for volunteers to research invasive plant species to obtain information on their basic biology and distribution in New England. Contact Bryan Connolly, Invasive Plant Survey Coordinator with the New England Wild Flower Society (bconnolly@newfs.org; (860) 423-8305) if you can help out. Visit the web site at www.newfs.org/ipane.htm for more information.

  8. The CIPWG exhibit will be on display at the Northeast Floral Expo at the Hastings Hotel in Hartford, CT, March 1-2. The Floral Expo, produced by the Connecticut Florists Association, will feature 1,000 florists from 8 states with a trade show, design shows, workshops and seminars. Susan Parr and Marian Sackett will be staffing the CIPWG exhibit. More information is available at http://www.flowersplantsinct.com/cfa/cfaindex.htm.

  9. The next meeting of the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group will be held in late March - date and time to be announced.

Donna Ellis
Co-Chairperson, Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
(860) 486-6448
Email donna.ellis@uconn.edu
Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group web site www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg

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