PRISM BLOG
Weed Alerts | News | Stories from the Field
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Weed Alert: Callery Pear
Native to China, Callery pear — especially its cultivar 'Bradford' — was widely planted beginning in the 1960s. With its white flowers and attractive fall foliage, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) was beloved by landscapers and homeowners alike…
Weed Alert: Wineberry
You can differentiate wineberry from native raspberries because of the reddish appearance of wineberry's stems (caused by a dense coat of red hairs). This makes it easy to spot in early spring before it has leafed out …
Weed Alert: Lesser Celandine
Also known as fig buttercup, lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) is native to Europe and parts of northern Africa and Asia. It was introduced to the United States in the late 1860s as an ornamental plant. Lesser celandine grows so densely and rapidly that…
Duke Hollow Stewardship Area
The goal of the Duke Hollow (DH) PRISM site (Clarke County) is to create a demonstration project showing that a few people can manage invasive plants on a scale of several hundred acres…
Weed Alert: Asiatic Bittersweet
Because it can spread so quickly and smother almost anything in its path, Asiatic bittersweet aka Round leaf bittersweet (formerly known as Oriental bittersweet) is rapidly taking over many American forests…
Special Alert: Two-Horned Trapa
Two-horned trapa (Trapa bispinosa) has made its way to Central Virginia. If you see this plant in local bodies of water in your area, please report it.
PRISM receives $25,000 Challenge Grant from VEE
Blue Ridge PRISM is grateful to have been awarded a challenge grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment! To unlock the match, we need to raise an additional $25,000. We hope that you will help…
Weed It Wednesdays
Check out our invasive plant spotlights every Wednesday on Facebook and Instagram! Here is today’s: Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Weed Alert: Burning Bush
Late October and November is a great time to identify and control invasive burning bush (Euonymus alatus) because it is easy to spot due to its bright red leaves. Because most native plants have already dropped their leaves, there is less likelihood of …
Thirteen Species Added to Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
Thirteen more species that pose a threat to Virginia’s ecosystems have been added to the Virginia Invasive Plant Species List. For the full list of 103 …
Weed Alert: Tree-of Heaven
Now is the time to identify and control this invasive tree to minimize re-growth. Check out our weed alert for more information…
New Legislation Regarding Herbicide Application
As a result of the 2024 General Assembly session, Virginia has new legislation regarding unpaid volunteers utilizing nonrestricted herbicides to treat invasive plants on properties owned by local political subdivisions. HB 320 was passed in 2024 and was incorporated …
Spotted Lanternfly Egg Mass Survey Underway
To report a Spotted Lanternfly egg mass scan the QR code below using your mobile device or visit the Egg Mass Survey Link to report from your desk. The survey closes on March 31, 2024. Please submit your reports before that date.
Weed Alert: Lesser Celandine
Now is the time to identify and control this invasive plant. Check out our weed alert for more information…
2024 Legislative Action Alert
View Blue Ridge PRISM’s Legislation Action Alert for more information and links Several invasive plant related bills are making their way through the Virginia Legislature. These bills are designed to curb invasive plants by supporting informed consumer choices, promoting healthy …
Snow Mountain Stewardship Area
PRISM’s first success story is still being written, but it is off to a great beginning. A landowner and PRISM member in Greene County, Jim Hurley, is the Area Steward for Snow Mountain on the lower slopes of Hightop Mountain…
Dutch Creek Stewardship Area
The core landowners in the Dutch Creek Area Stewardship in Nelson County are neighbors who know each other well. They have worked and socialized together for fifteen years. ..
