"Cyndi Lopper" Speaks Out

Are you a property owner in Connecticut?  A significant portion of your property could be in grave danger, right under your very nose!!  What is in danger?  YOUR TREES?  Invasive plants and vines are taking over large swaths of our local landscape and smothering our 100 and 200 year old trees.  This photo is of a tree in Winslow Park in Westport, before the vines were cut  (now you know how I got my nickname "Cyndi Lopper"....)   Driving around the area, I have identified several invasive vines including Asiatic Bittersweet,  with yellow/orange berries - a vine that grows woody trunks that can get as thick as your thigh around the trees; or Asiatic Bittersweet with red berries, an especially nasty one because of its vicious thorns; and of course, the infamous Mile A Minute Vine, another Asian import which is taking over our native trees.  We can help a number of ways.  First and foremost, we need to WALK OUR PROPERTIES, especially the perimeter of our land and take a good look at our trees.  Not only do we stand to lose our 100 and 200 year old trees, but when they fall, we have a potential liability.  So really check your own property, even on the margins.  If you see your trees covered in vines, cut them down and keep them down, especially if your house is on the market. 

People come from all over the world to witness something we might take for granted: the glorious colors of fall foliage, spectacular reds and golds, and warm hues of orange which provide a stark contrast against a blue autumn sky.   Let's keep an eye on this precious resource while we still have time, and don't let these vines kill our valuable trees. 
Here are some helpful resources:
http://www.westportct.gov/agencies/landuse/conservation/invasiveplant.htm - Westport site
http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/ctcouncil/CT_Invasive_Plant_List.htm - list of invasive plants in CT