It’s that time of year again: the weather’s hot, the ice cream stands are open, and King County’s invasive knotweeds (Polygonum spp.) are in full bloom. Don’t worry too much about your knotweed going to seed: King County’s most common… Read More ›
Weed Identification
Garden Loosestrife – August 2017 Weed of the Month
What plant is so tough that it can outcompete common cattail (Typha latifolia), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), and even Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) along King County’s shores? Garden loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), a Class B noxious weed from Eurasia, has managed… Read More ›
Weeds to Watch out for—August 2017
As we roll into August, plenty of noxious weeds across the county are blooming and going to seed, and those of us in the weed world are doing our best to keep up. Here’s what to watch out for this… Read More ›
Native Plants Saved by Noxious Weed Control
Invasive plants are a menace for a lot of reasons: They can cause serious harm to humans and animals; lower farmers’ crop yields; damage the mountains and lakes we love to visit, cutting back the tourism revenue for surrounding communities;… Read More ›
A Day in the Life of a Weed Specialist: Saving Skykomish from Orange Hawkweed
Have you ever wondered how King County’s noxious weed specialists find and control invasive weeds in King County? Or have you wondered what they do to keep themselves, and all of us, safe while they do their job? If you have—or… Read More ›
Tansy Ragwort – July 2017 Weed of the Month
Cows and horses don’t seek out poisonous plants like tansy ragwort. But it’s hard for them to avoid exposure when the weeds take over their pastures, or line the trails where they are ridden. Although tansy ragwort is bitter and… Read More ›
Weed Watchers teaming up to fight invasive weeds on trails in King County this summer
On two recent beautiful June days, people gathered at trail heads, not just to hike, but also determined to seek out and remove invasive plants. This might seem like a strange way to spend the day on a beautiful trail,… Read More ›
Who’s Who? Noxious Weeds and their Look-Alikes
Weed Specialist Mary Fee paces through the wetlands at Dumas Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, scanning the cattails around her. Every few dozen feet she stops to inspect a smaller plant growing among them. She’s looking for perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium),… Read More ›
Spotted Knapweed – June 2017 Weed of the Month
What’s five feet tall, has pink or purple flowers with spotted bracts, and costs the state of Montana $42 million each year? If you answered spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe), you’re right! A native to grassland steppes between central Europe and… Read More ›
Weeds to Watch Out For: June 2017
Enjoying the recent spell of sunny weather? You’re not the only one: Across King County, a number of noxious weeds are already bolting, flowering, or going to seed, and our Weed Specialists are working hard to keep them under control…. Read More ›
