Pinkladies2 Observation
Here's the link to access my NOT finding Japanese Knotweed
http://vitalsignsme.org/observation/species-fallopia-japonica-was-not-fo...
Here's the link to what could be Queen Anne's Lace
http://vitalsignsme.org/observation/species-daucus-carota-was-found-citi...
I had my stepsons help me with this. Now when we were checking on the Japanese Knotweed, they were adamant that what we had was NOT Japanese Knotweed, but when we were looking at the Queen Anne's Lace, they felt strongly that it was. I question as to whether it was or not, but I'm considering this to be a teachable moment, for both the boys and myself. It was fun to do this with them, and my oldest, who's 13, enjoyed it as well. He took the pictures and my 9-year-old helped me collect the other data.
Comments
Conclusion
Are Queen Anne's Lace and Japanese Knotweed present along roadsides in Aroostook and Lincoln counties? From the evidence that we have discovered we, the Pink Ladies, can conclude that, Yes Queen Anne's Lace and Japanese Knotweed are present in both Lincoln and Aroostook counties.
Great job ladies. This has been fun. I wish that I could have been in the thick of it with you. Ah, next time.
Not sure, maybe yarrow
I think Mrs. Cyr had good photos, and based on them I think the plant with white flowers is yarrow, not wild carrot. (Queen Anne's Lace) It's similar because the leaves are lobed and the flowers have big white clusters, but the wild carrot has flowers which sort of look like starbursts...they form a pattern, radiating out from the center, and I think wild carrot flower clusters are bigger, and have more flowers.
Here is a picture of a yarrow flower--- http://www.flowers.vg/flowers/yarrow-white.htm
Here is wild carrot. http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/queen_annes_lace.htm
I agree with you, Lin, about
I agree with you, Lin, about the Queen Anne's Lace being misidentified. Based on the link and the differences you described, I believe that it is Yarrow. I wonder what would be done now if we were in a classroom setting? Would we have the students do the observations again and resubmit?
debate!
I guess in class, we should assign groups to some of the similar species to Queen Anne's Lace. They would have to research identifying traits. Then each group would present their findings and stake a claim- it is or is not Queen Anne's lace, giving evidence for the claim. After each group goes, the class could decide on a vote or needing more evidence. Actually it might turn out to be a consensus and not a debate. We could also play that id game if we had samples of some similar species, sort of like what they had us do with the shells.
Actually, that's a great
Actually, that's a great idea...identify it as a class or group prior to putting it on the web.
Reviewing data
Ok, so I looked at what we've come up with: We have two confirmations of Japanese Knotweed and two found Queen Anne's Lace that haven't been confirmed yet. But they look like they are according to the species cards. I'm waiting to hear from Wendy about what the info was posted under, then we can write a conclusion.
I sent a message to the GMRI folks while on the road. I found a LOT of Oriental Bittersweet along the roadsides as we were driving south. I have a good picture from a roadside in Connecticut, but it just got worse the farther south we went. Some of the trees in Virginia and Georgia were so covered you could tell the tree was dying. It was crazy.
I'll post again after I hear from Wendy. Absolutely great work Pink Ladies! I can't wait to get home and go out and do some citizen science research of my own.
review again
Ok. I've looked over everyone's, except my own (coming soon).
Theresa is under CitizenMrsCyr; Linda is under 4 Seasons; Karen is under karenmccormic; Wendy is under queenslace.
So far we have four confirmations-two for the invasive Japanese Knotweed (one in Lincoln county and one in Aroostook); and two for the native Queen Anne's Lace (one in Aroostook and one in Lincoln). So our conclusion so far can be that: yes, Japanese Knotweed and Queen Anne's Lace are present along the roadsides in Lincoln and Aroostook Counties. We can eliminate Cumberland because I didn't get to do my investigation in Maine before I left for parts south and west.
So what do you ladies think-do I need to wait for my info to be posted or do you think that there is enough to say we have a conclusion?
I also agree that it's safe
I also agree that it's safe to conclude that Queen Anne's Lace and Japanese Knotweed are both present in Aroostook County and in Lincoln. Although I've not found either one, evidence gathered have proven that both have been successfully identified. Great work, guys! Or shall I say gals!!
Nice work
I just looked at Wendy's postings. Great job! I agree with Mrs. G (Trish); Japanese Knotweed and Queen Anne's Lace are present along roadways in Aroostook and Lincoln Counties. I'm so glad we did this follow-up, now I feel way more ready to do it with students. I never looked forward to school this much before! ;-)
Conclusion
I totally agree, that based on our original conclusion, we can confidently say that both Japanese Knotweed and Queen Anne's Lace are present along the roadsides in Lincoln and Aroostook Counties. Though we did not investigate Cumberland, I bet that we could look on the Vital Sign's page and find it located in that county by someone else. However, that would not be right, so go with the first conclusion. Good work.
Poor Cape Cod!
After the Vital Signs workshop, I headed to Cape Cod to visit my daughter. It was just covered in invasive species that I could recognize now, because of my vital signs training. Bittersweet all over everything, huge stands of knotweed and phragmites. I saw marshes with just phragmites on one side of road and cattails on the other...with patches of phragmites at the edges establishing a foothold. Also there was a ton of porcelain-berry. However, the farther away from the mainland I went, the less I saw of these particular invasives.
Invasives
I know, 1/4 of a mile from my house is a little bridge over the Sheepscot and I walked down the other day to talk to some students who were swimming. There we tons of things there that we just totally invasives. It was really interesting talking to my older brother about it because he is a fly fishing guide and he knows a ton. He was rattling them off and showing me. I was like, you and I are going to get together on this soon ok?
Looking and reading
Hi ladies-greetings from the great state of Arizona. I've looked at the observations of Linda, Theresa, and Karen. I haven't found mine (via Wendy's daughter) or Wendy's yet. Elly doing this for me will give her a head start next year, since she is one of my 8th graders. The observations look great-I commented on all of them. Let me go back and make a tally of what we've got so far.
Non-compliant helpers
Yeah, my guy could see no purpose of taking a picture of that plant and plus he thought that we were done with the garden. The other one was throwing sand at cars. I was totally surprised at how big the Knot Weed plant bush was. Some of the stems were the size of copper piping. It really did look like bamboo. There is sooo much of it around this area too. I wish that we could get back together as a group and have someone show us all of these plants so that I could be more confident in my identification. Yeah, I really do like knowing a little bit more than my students.
I agree with you, Karen.
I agree with you, Karen. What I thought was Queen Anne's Lace is not that at all....Situations like this I would like to be more knowledgeable about the native and invasive species that are in our area. I have no problem letting my students know that I'm learning too, but I would like to know more about these plants. I guess that's something I'll have to do on my own.
Knotweed
There is knotweed right in front of the elementary school!! Yuck! I love that you took your boys out with you, Mrs. Cyr. I saw two of my especially enthusiastic students (who will be in grade 8) yesterday. They were zipping around on bikes, so they are mobile! I'll see if they want to try looking for Queen Anne's Lace and Knotweed...I'll make them some color species cards. I'm going to bring the crayfish trap to the lake today and set it up just to see what happens.
Well done!
Hello team,
We've been reading your discussion with great enthusiasm. Its seems your identification skills are very much improving, and with time and open eyes, this will get even stronger. One you see these invasives, your view of the world will change and as you have experienced, you see them everywhere! Let's help our students understand the risks of Maine looking like CT, with vines choking the trees, and dense stands of tall things everywhere. So, while its totally OK to be learning alongside students, we know that it helps to have some sense of the plants identification ahead of time. We were not able to offer this training content to you during the institute, but rest assured, you will get better with practice, and this will also be an early element of our fall online sessions together. Nice job team.