tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752027331714385066.post5284952903804325912..comments2024-03-19T14:38:21.141-07:00Comments on Terra Forming Terra: Giant Hogweed - Green Monsterarcleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05942529252160087271noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752027331714385066.post-39185811200358641072011-07-07T12:27:18.477-07:002011-07-07T12:27:18.477-07:00Maybe it is time we simply opened up the ditches t...Maybe it is time we simply opened up the ditches to the farmers as theirs to operate and maintain. The fence row has always been allowed to run wild because no proper use was allowed.<br /><br />we have already noted that it is a perfect place to plant potatoes. That alone would swiftly eliminate the problem.arcleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05942529252160087271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752027331714385066.post-17729428856414636242011-07-07T06:41:12.208-07:002011-07-07T06:41:12.208-07:00This is only a small part of the story - that need...This is only a small part of the story - that needs wide dissemination. This plant is in the parsnip family. ALL wild parsnips share this danger to humans but many of them are much smaller, some not much bigger than Queen Anne's Lace which they are related to and resemble. The flowers of the smaller ones have a yellow/golden cast. It is also known by the character of the stem - it is ridged and somewhat hairy - and its leaves come out of the stem with an edge that surrounds the stem. All varieties (that I know of) have 'hand-like' leaves. It has spread throughout Vermont along the ditches (that has the soil it thrives in) partly because farmers have waited till the end of season to mow there. By then, it has gone to seed. The seeds are viable for about 7 years. All parts of the plant must be removed and DO NOT COMPOST the removed plants. Then, one must keep after the area for 8 years without allowing one to go to seed. Fun, huh? Think about where auto accidents happen. Who all gets exposed to crushed plants? Yeah, victims AND emergency personnel. Some common names are Blister Weed, Poison Parsnip and Cow Parsnip. If you reside from New England down to Maryland, learn to recognize this. It really makes Poison Ivy/Oak look like a Summer cold next to liver cancer. Remember that it poses little danger without exposure to UV radiation. Here's an article about the giant one: http://www.invadingspecies.com/Invaders.cfm?A=Page&PID=31John Boanerges Redmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864033299243992962noreply@blogger.com