1) The Connecticut Invasive Plants Council Fifth Annual Report has been posted on the CIPWG website at www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg. The link to the report can be found on the home page of the website under Invasive Plant Legislation. The report was prepared by Dr. Louis Magnarelli from The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and former Chairman of the Council. Dr. Mary Musgrave from the University of Connecticut was recently elected Chairperson, effective January 1, 2008.

2) Following a public comment period in December, Connecticut Invasive Plants Council members this month unanimously approved endorsing a voluntary effort by the Connecticut Green Industry to stop the production and sale of porcelainberry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata). Seventeen comments from the public were received by the Council with no opposition to designating porcelainberry as an Invasive plant in the state (it is currently listed as Potentially Invasive on the Connecticut list). Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association (CNLA) members also unanimously agreed to urge the green industry to remove porcelainberry from production and sale. The Green Industry will have one year to self-regulate the voluntary ban.

3) Volunteers are needed to work at the CIPWG invasive plant exhibit during the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show from February 21-24 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT (see http://www.ctflowershow.com/). You will receive free admission to the Flower Show if you volunteer to work but you will need to pay for parking (Convention Center parking is $3.00 for the 1st hour and $2.00 for each additional hour; daily parking will range from $9.00 - $11.00 at the Convention Center or across the street at the Westside Garage, depending on the day you work).

Please contact Donna Ellis (email donna.ellis@uconn.edu; phone 860-486-6448) ASAP if you can help out at one or more of these time slots:

Thursday Feb. 21 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.; or 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Friday Feb. 22 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.; or 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Saturday Feb. 23 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.; or 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sunday Feb. 24 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. (& take down exhibit)

4) We are pleased to announce that a Governor’s Proclamation and a Legislative Citation have been approved for National Invasive Weed Awareness Week, February 24 - March 1, 2008. We would like to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of CIPWG members Susan Parr and Helen Pritchard, who are also very active with The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. Susan and Helen worked with their local Legislators to have them contact the Governor’s office and ask for a Governor’s Proclamation as well as create a Legislative Citation to recognize the efforts of the following organizations and councils in Connecticut that have been working diligently to educate the public about invasive plants:

The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc.

The Connecticut Invasive Plants Council

The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group

The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England

The Nature Conservancy of Connecticut

The Governor’s Proclamation and Legislative Citation will be displayed at the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show in February.

Submitted by Donna Ellis

Extension Educator and Co-Chair, Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG)