Events

It's pretty--but don't plant it. Callary Pear photo courtesy of Cathy McGlynn

Many of the invasive plants that dominate natural areas in our region (i.e., common buckthorn, bush honeysuckle, and multiflora rose) were once growing in someone’s yard.  We know that a few of the plants that gardeners are planting right now are invasive and could well become the next buckthorn or honeysuckle.  Unfortunately, all of these invasive plants affect our native animals by replacing the native plants on which these animals rely for food and shelter.  Cathy will provide information about which garden plants are invasive and some recommendations and resources for making informed choices for your garden.

Cathy McGlynn has been the Coordinator for the Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership (NIIPP), a cooperative weed management area including the 18 counties of northeast Illinois, since August 2010.  Cathy received her Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where her dissertation focused on the effects of common reed and purple loosestrife on native plants, small mammals, and birds in freshwater tidal wetlands of the Hudson River.  She serves on the Illinois Invasive Plant Species Council and the Midwest Invasive Plant Network’s Invasive Plants in Trade Working Group; and currently works on the Clean Boats Crew program with IL-IN Sea Grant, assists with the New Invaders Watch Program, and collaborates with Midwest Invasive Plant Network on green market outreach in addition to co-coordinating the Illinois Hydrilla Task Force.