Green Earth News

Volume 33, No. 1, Spring 2019

Green Earth, Inc. P. O. Box 441 Carbondale, IL 62903-0441

Preserving Carbondale’s Natural Areas

Board of Directors

Beth Fisher, President

Nathan Speagle, Vice President

Keith Beyler, Treasurer

Dorcy Prosser, Secretary

David Gibson, Judy Martinko,

Ken Mayberry, Marisa Szubryt,

Becca Tally, Laurel Toussaint.

Trail Adopters

Brush Hill

Mike & Chris Long

Oakland

NeuroRestorative

SIUC Evaluation & Development Center

Chautauqua Bottoms

Bob & Janel Taylor

Dorcy Prosser & Jan Weiss

Ken Mayberry

Fernlands

Nathan Speagle

Pyles Fork

SIUC Geography Club

Green Earth, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit

organization established in 1974.

Green Earth's mission is to acquire and preserve natural

areas in the vicinity of Carbondale, Illinois, and provide access for public

enjoyment and education.

We strive to preserve these areas for future generations, and

encourage public input and participation for these

objectives.

Executive Director Stephanie Eichholz,

director@greenearthinc.org

(618) 201-3774

www.GreenEarthinc.org

facebook.com/GreenEarthInc twitter.com/GreenEarth_Inc

Spring Native Plant Sale

April 6th, 2019

8:00am to 2:00pm

Fundraiser Sale, prices start at $10

John A Logan College in Carterville, IL

Building H - Workforce Development

In conjunction with The Illinois Indigenous Plant Symposium

(admission to the plant sale is free)

Green Earth & the Illinois Native Plant Society are offering high quality nursey stock

Native Perennial Wildflowers, Ferns, Grasses, & Shrubs from Southernwood Gardens of Anna, IL

Questions? Contact

director@greenearthinc.org or southernillinoisplants@gmail.com

Community Play Day! Oakland Nature Preserve

Saturday May 11th

10am - noon

Check website for rain-day

announcements

Explore, Play, & Learn

• Enjoy our Kid’s Exploration Trail

• Learn about Pollinators

• Have fun at our Bug Table

• Make Nature-Themed Crafts

• Hike the rest of the Preserve

• Light Refreshments Served

Activities are geared for pre-K to sixth grade

but all ages are welcome

For more information Call 618 201-3774

or email director@greenearthinc.org

President’s Corner

Beth Fisher, beth.bfisher@verizon.net

We’re looking for a Green Earth truck!

As you know, Green Earth holds regular

monthly workdays and many other

special workdays, projects, and events

throughout the year. Our Executive

Director, Stephanie, has generously been

using her own truck to haul supplies (for

example wood to build signs and

bridges), tools, gravel, and even trailers

full of pumpkins!

But it’s time for GE to have its own truck

for all of this work. We have explored

several avenues, but haven’t had any luck

yet finding an affordable option. So

we’re reaching out to our network of

supporters to see if you or anyone you

know is willing to donate or sell for a

reasonable price, a 1-ton (or greater)

pickup truck. Or ask if you know of any

programs where we might be able to

obtain one. If you can help, please

contact Stephanie at (618) 201-3774 or

director@greenearthinc.org. Thank you!

Page 2

$1000+ Kassy Simonds

Becca Tally via CVS Foundation

$200-$499

Mary & John McKillip Gayle Klam, Dorothy Speagle

Martha Crothers, Stan & Leslie Curtis Ken Mayberry via SIH Foundation

Janet & Andrew Ernest Beth & Derek Fisher

$100 - $199

Jan & Robert Weiss John & Mary Polmann Ruth & Thomas Roy

Judy & John Martinko Katherine & George Black Marvin & Marion Kleinau

William C. Ashby

Donna Williams, Jack Parker Craig & Janice Hinde

Sara Baer, Bobbie Ogletree Bob & Janel Taylor

Joe Lenzini Calvin Sterns

Carolyn Ferdinand Emma Jean & Michael Durr Anne Gaylord & Don Monty

Up to $99 Betsy & Andy Brown

John Verduin, Fred Isberner

Red Zone Cooling & Heating LLC* John & Janette Hudgins

Richard Steger, Judy Lewis Yolan & Robert Presley

Kathy Fralish, Kirsten Trimble Abigail & Daniel Cook

Pat Eckert & Jerry Molumby Betty & Roland Person Terry & Linda Mathias Regina & Roger Pfister

Southern Recycling Center David & Anton Kvernes

Kenneth Buzbee, Charlie Howe Pat & Harold Hungerford Jonathan & Andrea Nabe

Melody Shimada, Kaitlyn Scott Imogene Beckemeyer

Lizetter Chevalier, Lisa Thomas Patricia Cuendet, Harry Davis,

Dorothy & Arnold Ulner Grant Justice, Roberta Christie

Carol & James Dooley Dan & Fran Becque

James O’Donnell, Christian Moe Steve & Kathy Belletire, Jim & Kathy Booziotis

Kenneth Loving, James Womack Noah Seferian, Kenneth Shimada

John Bakalar, Jill Baker

Thanks To Our

Recent Contributors! Donations from 11/06/18

Monthly Contributors S. Bennett Mercurio John & Sara Hinde * In honor of Benieta Powell

Chautauqua Bottoms ADA Bridge & Trail

Weather Delays

We may have had our public opening last November, but an

unseasonably wet Fall had kept us from completing the central

section of the David Kenney trail, and the prairie trail upgrade

hadn’t started yet. The heavy precipitation throughout the winter

has kept our contractor from being able to continue any work.

Spring, our normally wet season, will no doubt continue to toss

wet weather our direction. Mother Nature does not seem to be

inclined to let us finish our trail upgrades any time soon. We

thank you in advance for your understanding!

Page 3

Landscape Plants Gone Bad:

Bradford Pear by Laurel Toussaint

This is the 4th GE newsletter featuring an invasive plant

that, although once valued for landscaping purposes, now

threatens native biodiversity. The Bradford Pear tree is an

aggressive invader. Just how bad an invasive is the

Bradford Pear? The words used to describe the tree on

websites provide a good measure of how hard it is to

control: curse, Backyard Bullies, awful, threat,

scourge, despised, nightmare, plague, and culprit.

The Bradford, or Callery, Pear (Pyrus calleryana) is a

native of China and Vietnam. After WWII, this tree was

cloned and planted by the millions, becoming the

ubiquitous street tree of America’s postwar suburban

expansion. Although initially these clones produced

sterile fruit, later cultivars produced copious, fertile fruits,

resulting in a monstrous invasion. And, as the Bradford

Pear spreads it is becoming more genetically diverse.

Year by year, the invasive range of Bradfords is growing

larger at an alarming rate.

In 2017, Ohio added Bradfords to a list of 38 outlaw

plants that include Autumn Olive, Oriental Bittersweet

and Japanese Honeysuckles that cannot be sold in the

state. Illinois would be wise to adopt a similar policy.

Every year that these species spread, removal costs

become increasingly prohibitive. Strategies that focus

only on containment will not succeed. Time is not on

our side. If only these species had been banned years ago

we would not have the mess we have now. Local

political advocacy needs to be an important strategy in

control of this ubiquitous invasive.

It is our hope that through education and advocacy,

members of our community will join efforts to eradicate

Bradford Pears and prevent its spread into natural areas -

including Green Earth Nature Preserves.

In a few weeks, So. Illinois residents will have visible

evidence of the extent of the Bradford Pear invasion.

Trees that have spread from yards and street plantings are

now reaching maturity and easily identified by their

prolific white flowers. In and around Carbondale,

Bradford Pear trees are forming extensive, nearly pure

stands in old fields, along roadsides, and in disturbed

areas. Two substantial stands of advancing Bradford

Pears can be see in the fields just southwest of Lowes in

Carbondale, and on the east side of New Era Road, south

of Charles Road.

Many Green Earth volunteer workdays include removal

of Bradford Pears. Those wanting more information on

control options for the Bradford Pear are encouraged to

join in these volunteer efforts.

One way that GE volunteers can have a greater impact is

to provide others with additional information about

specific invasive plants and to encourage them to use

their new knowledge and skills on their own property.

We are fighting a losing battle unless property owners

recognize the threats of invasive plants and join in

eradication efforts.

Characteristics and control methods can be found on the

Weeds Gone Wild website: https://www.invasive.org/

alien/pubs/midatlantic/pyca.htm

Alternatives to Bradford Pear There are excellent native alternatives landowners can use to replace their Bradford

Pears. A link on The Missouri Botanical Garden website “Suggested Alternatives to Bradford Pear Trees” offers

numerous species. Two that have both beautiful flowers and colorful fall foliage are:

Serviceberry Yellowwood

Amelanchier arborea Cladrastis kentukea

Bradford Pear infestation in the foreground. Photo taken in the old-

field habitat southwest of Lowes in Carbondale. Photo: L. Toussaint

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Enroll in Merchant Reward Programs Green Earth participates in both Schnuck’s eScrip Program and Amazon Smiles program. Visit greenearthinc.org/support-ge to learn how to sign up

Estate Planning Remember Green Earth in your will. Call 618-201-3774 or email director@greenearthinc.org

Stock Transfer Call 618-201-3774 or email director@greenearthinc.org

Ways to Give GE’s Upcoming Volunteer Workdays & Events See our website’s Event Calendar for more information

Mar 23 9am-12pm Monthly Workday, Pyles Fork Preserve

Apr 6 8am- 2pm Native Plant Sale, John A Logan College

Apr 20 9am-12pm Monthly Workday, Oakland Preserve May 11 10am-noon Community Play Day, Oakland Preserve

May 18 9am-12pm Monthly Workday, TBA

Locations subject to change based on site conditions & need. Check our website for rain dates, updates, and changes.

ISM = Invasive Species Management TBA = To Be Announced