BUCKTHORN ALERT - Invasive Plant Thursday, August 12, 2010 We want to put some inform the public of an invasive plant known as buckthorn that showed up last year on my property. As of this year, buckthorn is also now on my sister's property next door, as well as the next property. So spreading on the mid part of the south shore of Lake Wassookeag. I have also seen a few stems of it it along Zions Hill Road between Gunner and Horizon Lanes. I have attached 2 photos - one that shows a single stem, and another that shows how the woods, that had only low ferns 2 years ago, has a lot of buckthorn that varies from 5 - 10 ft. high. So it spreads really fast, and Jana Wood checked with the state for me last year to identify it, and said it was invasive and should be eliminated. Despite a lot of effort last year, I still have quite a bit of buckthorn that re-surfaced this summer. It grows from the lake shore through the wetter areas, following culverts, and is even coming up through the pavement on my sister's old tennis court. These web sites, while from the National Park Service and other northern states, have helpful information: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/rhca1.htm http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/icat/browse.do?specieId=24 http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/julaug98/buckthorn.html