The Emma Lee Shantyboat and Backwater Explorer

04/23/2023

Nature’s “Clean up on Aisle 3” crew!

The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

02/22/2023

See this quite often out on the river islands - good stuff to learn and identify!

It is Invasive Species Awareness Week, so we wanted to answer one of the questions we get the most often: "How can I identify ?"

This handy illustration shows 4 of the key ID points to look out for. Namely:

1) The short thorn found between the twig tips.
2) Flaky or bumpy bark with orange inner tissue.
3) Glossy, egg-shaped leaves with toothed edges.
4) Dark, round berries that appear from summer into fall.

To learn more about why buckthorn is so harmful to Minnesota's native plants, wildlife and ecosystems: https://fmr.org/updates/conservation/buckthorn-how-can-shrub-be-so-harmful

02/11/2023

European buckthorn is a tall understory shrub brought to North America in the early 1800s as an ornamental shrub. But this woody plant escaped from yards and landscaped areas long ago, spreading rapidly in forests and other natural areas ever since.