Indiana Invasives Initiative Fundraising Campaign

This holiday season, consider Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management in your year-end gift giving and charitable support!

Non-native invasives are overwhelming the Hoosier state, They crowd out native plants, have no natural controls and diminish the natural beauty and productivity of Indiana. SICIM, through its Indiana Invasives Initiative (III), is working with Hoosiers in counties throughout Indiana to establish CISMAs (Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas). These groups provide local efforts to address the invasives problems that are specific to their areas. 

Your help is needed now! The SICIM End-of-the-Year Fundraiser Campaign is our new annual directed effort to gather the resources needed to continue our work in the coming year. The money raised goes directly to the Indiana Invasives Initiative, which provides invasive species awareness and assistance throughout the state. Please contribute today as a Student, Contributor, Patron, Bronze, Silver, or Gold Sponsor. In thanks for your support, SICIM and III merchandise will accompany each sponsorship level.

SAVE THE DATE - SPRING 2020 CISMA CONFERENCE

SAVE THE DATE - We look forward to hosting the state-wide Spring 2020 CISMA Conference, Invasive Species and Watersheds in Indiana on March 26, 2020 at the Hamilton County, Indiana 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Center. This all day event (9 AM-4 PM) will cover current research about the impacts of invasive species, a techniques training session, updates on Spotted Lantern Fly, Kudzu management in Indiana, the Terrestrial Plant Rule (which becomes enforceable April 2020), the Indiana Invasives Initiative (III) project, the soon-to-be released Indiana Terrestrial Plant Rule Pocket Guide and more. Registration will begin December and the draft agenda will be made available at that time.

We very much hope you will plan to join us! Sign up to keep updated about the Spring 2020 CISMA Conference at the following link: tinyurl.com/CISMA2020

A Recap of SICIM's 2019 Annual Meeting

Thank you to all who joined us for this year’s SICIM Annual Meeting in Danville. Thanks also to attendees that gave donations to SICIM during the event as well as to our event lunch sponsor The Nature Conservancy. We are pleased to announce our Incoming SICIM officers Will Drews as the Chair and Troy Hinkle as Vice Chair, and we are ever thankful to our Outgoing Chair Ray Chattin. This year’s meeting was a celebration of the efforts and achievements for the Indiana Invasives Initiative and our critical CISMA partners at the county and regional level. During the meeting, SICIM awarded the Partner of the Year Award to The Sam Shine Foundation, and Ray Chattin presented Dawn Slack with the Chairman’s Award. Dawn shared inspiring updates for the Indiana Invasives Initiative, the Indiana Invasive Species Council, and the Invasive Plant Advisory Committee. In addition, each of the five Regional Specialists had the chance to introduce themselves and share news of accomplishments within their service regions. Will Drews introduced the Knox County Invasive Plant Ordinance, the first legislation of its kind at the county level in Indiana. Ellen Jacquart shared an insightful look into the Monroe County - Identify and Reduce Invasive Species (MC-IRIS) successful program that is working at the neighborhood level to address invasives. Landowners and CISMA partners took the opportunity to share stories of success with meeting attendees. Vicky Meretsky concluded the talks with a thoughtful dialog about engaging volunteers in invasive plant control during her experiences with Garlic Mustard management and monitoring. In closing, SICM awarded the following recipients with the Weed Warriors Recognition: Patti Fenio-Campbell, Ron Langleyand, Vicky Meretsky, and Richard & Margy Smith. Without a doubt, success against invasive species is linked to the efforts of committed individuals like these.

Terrestrial Plant Rule Has Passed!

The Terrestrial Plant Rule has been signed by the Governor and was published March 18th, 2019. The rule went into effect 30 days after publishing, so it became effective on April 18th, 2019. The rule states with respect to the 44 plant species included on the rule:

Indiana TPR is signed and published.

“a person must not:

(1) Sell, offer or grow for sale, gift, barter, exchange, or distribute a species;

(2) Transport or transfer a species; or

(3) Introduce a species.

(4) Subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection are effective one year after the effective date of this rule.”

Note that section (3) “Introduce a species” is effective immediately (on April 18, 2019).

A pdf copy of the rule (plant list included) can be found here.

The Invasive Plant Advisory Committee offers the this helpful Terrestrial Plant Rule Fact Sheet publication to answer some key questions about this rule. Purdue University also has a pdf publication titled What Nurseries Need to Know About the Invasive Species Regulation.

More Information about the TPR and other state level invasive plant regulations can be found on the IDNR website. Visit the IDNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology to learn how to report invasive species.

Left to Right: Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii), Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei), and Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) are among the 44 prohibited plants in Terrestrial Plant Rule.

Some Invasives are Edible – Devour the Enemy one Bite at a Time!

Invasive plants came to America for many reasons, but many were brought by people who found them useful and planted them because they were edible. This spring, as you pull invasives in your woods, you might take some vengeance from at least a few of these invasives by eating them in a variety of recipes.

At a recent meeting for the Lawrence County CISMA several dishes were served with garlic mustard which were a hit for the more than 40 attendees.  Reportedly, garlic mustard was brought to America by German immigrants from Europe and planted it in their herb gardens to use as flavoring in their cooking. It adds a good flavor to food and can be used in place of spinach in a spinach lasagna or add it to your favorite salsa recipe. Experiment with throwing a little garlic mustard in with other dishes to add flavor in early spring and feel good about taking a bite out of the population of this invasive plant.

Although fortunately knotweed is not common, and we hope you don’t find any since it is difficult to control, it too is quite tasty to eat in the spring. The stems have a flavor said to be better than rhubarb if harvested early. Substituted for rhubarb in an apple-rhubarb pie recipe you’ll be helping us “eat our way out of the invasive problem!” If the knotweed patch has been sprayed in the prior year but still comes up, we don’t recommend you eat them as there may be residual herbicide in the plant tissue.

A tasty spring salad can be made with lettuce, new dandelion leaves, honeysuckle, and multiflora rose growth. Pick only the ends of these invasive plants that are young shoots which are flexible and high in vitamin C. Once these plants get past their first growth spurt, they aren’t very edible.

So… if you’re procrastinating getting out to pull your garlic mustard maybe the idea that you can eat some of it at the end of the day will inspire you to get out and get the job done! Recipes can be found below for the best way to cook up some of these invasives. Bon Appetit!

For the recipes, click here.

Register for SICIM's 2019 Annual Meeting

Join us for our 2019 Annual Meeting titled “Growing Grassroots in Indiana” on Thursday, June 20th at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds. Learn about how to become active in a Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA); hear CISMA successes; and network with fellow CISMA members, volunteers, and professionals.

Registration is open now! Register through Eventbrite: https://sicim2019.eventbrite.com or by contacting Cheryl (812-276-4773) and paying at the door.

See the draft agenda below:

Day 5 of NISAW - Supporting CISMAs!

For Day 5 of NISAW, we'll discuss how you can help be a part of CISMA development financially by contributing to our new sponsor program!

SICIM is now promoting different sponsor levels to help us achieve our goal of creating local CISMAs all across the state! Here are the different levels:
- Student $20
- Regular $30-99
- Patron $100-$149
- Bronze $150-$499
- Silver $500-$1,999
- Gold $2,000.00 +

All sponsors will be listed on SICIM's Annual Report under their respective category, if they so choose. In addition, all sponsors will get an electronic copy of the Annual Report.

All Gold donors will receive printed copies of the Annual Report, Business Plan, and Contributor Guide.

Sponsors can contribute via Paypal on our website (http://www.sicim.info/donate) or send us a check to 1919 Steven Ave Bedford, IN 47421.

We hope you'll join our statewide movement for comprehensive invasive species management!

Day 4 of NISAW - Weed Wrangles

For Day 4 of NISAW, we'll discuss action/what you can do to get involved. One program we are pushing local CISMAs to host is a Weed Wrangle®.

Weed what? It is about time to work in our gardens and get outside and enjoy our parks; therefore, it’s time to wrangle a few invasive plants (aka weeds). And what better way to do that, than with a group so we can make a bigger impact. That is the essence of a weed wrangle. A gathering of folks (experts and nonexperts) to learn about and remove invasive plants and plant native ones.

Weed Wrangles® started a couple of years ago in Nashville, Tennessee. They began as one-day events to help “rescue public parks and green spaces from invasive species through hands-on removal”. They were a hit and quickly spread to other cities in Tennessee and then other states. We asked for permission to hold Weed Wrangle Indiana® instead of having cities apply for the trademark name individually. We wanted to use the national program as a platform to collectively strengthen invasive species awareness and action across the state especially through CISMAs (Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas). Cayce, the Weed Wrangle guru and founder, provided the rules and granted us permission. So off we went.

We’re off to a great start. Eight events are already scheduled in various counties. See list below.

The time frame for spring Weed Wrangle Indiana® events will be 15 March through 31 May. Each event must be led by an expert in invasive species management and must provide education and hands-on management experience about invasive plants. Would you like to join us as we kick off the spring with a Weed Wrangle®? Contact one of the Indiana Invasive Initiative’s Regional Specialist (RS) or Dawn Slack so they can email the trademark rules and gather information about your event. They will share your event information with the Weed Wrangle® headquarters, who will post the events on the official Weed Wrangle® website. We will also post your information on the Indiana Invasive Species Council website and SICIM’s website. The RS or Dawn will share the logo with you (and a few rules), so you can advertise your event and let everyone know your event is part of a national effort.

Weed Wrangle® Event held at Dunn Woods in Bloomington.

After your is event is over, you are required to provide a few details and photos. This information is captured in an Indiana database and a national Weed Wrangle® database.

Together we can make a larger impact on the health of our lands, waters and wildlife. I hope your group will consider hosting a Weed Wrangle Indiana® with us.

SICIM assistance contacts: 
Liz Yetter, liz@sicim.info
Amber Slaughterbeck, amber@sicim.info
Erica Luchik, Erica@sisicm.info
Dawn Slack, Dawn.slack@tnc.org

Also, see attached image of local CISMA contacts for reference.

Day 3 of NISAW - Gardening with Natives

For the third day of NISAW, we'll look at gardening with native plants.

The underlying reason to remove invasive species is to save and improve our natural areas; our lands and waters, everything relies on for life. Research shows that approximately 85% of the woody invasives we see in our natural areas (parks, forests, preserves, etc.) come from our landscaped areas. So, what a wonderful chore (removing invasives and planting natives), if you will, we have before us. And what a difference we make when we engage in this chore. When working in areas that still retain some semblance of their natural state, often, when we remove the invasive species, the native plants reestablish themselves. However, highly disturbed urban areas often require a little more assistance from us as native soils with a native seed bank are gone.

The connection between our native plants and wildlife is just plain cool. Did you know that about 15 moths and 30 birds use Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)? Whoa! What a sweet relationship our native plants have with wildlife.

There are a couple of great programs in Indiana to encourage each of us to delve into the “chore”. The Indiana Native Plant Society has a program called Grow Indiana Natives. Information is available here: https://growindiananatives.org/ . I encourage you to check out the certification program for your landscape and spread the word about it. Just how many yards and landscaped areas will take on this challenge and have a sign in 2019? Another program is the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program. The link to its website is: https://www.nwf.org/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat and you can check out Indiana specific information here: https://www.indianawildlife.org/. These are just two of many programs that can help make our landscapes part of our natural areas instead of a haven for invasive species. They represent two local ones that promote action. And let’s face it, we need action.

If you want to smile and learn the important role native plants play in pollinator health check out this list from Purdue here: https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publicati…/POL-6/POL-6.pdf. This list gives a peek to the connection between native plants and wildlife (insects, bees, beetles, birds, etc.).

And if you want to create a fun online map check out Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s yard map program here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/put-yourself-on-the-map/.

I can’t think of a better way to show we recognize our responsibility to the health of our lands, waters and wildlife than to remove invasive species and incorporate native plants in our landscapes. And I can’t help but wonder if Indiana citizens and businesses can register more areas than any other state? Are we up for some serious action or what?

Day 2 of NISAW - the Indiana Invasives Initiative

For day two of the National Invasive Species Awareness Week, we'll talk about the big initiative our organization is heading up: the Indiana Invasives Initiative (III).

The Indiana Invasives Initiative (III) resulted from the collaboration of two partners combining efforts to work on a grass-roots plan to manage invasive species state-wide. One partner was the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the other was us, Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM). Their agreement resulted in a 5-year plan to establish local cooperative invasive species management areas (CISMAs) around the state.

These local CISMAs work at the county level and are operated by interested partners who share a common goal to control invasives, and realize that since invasives don’t respect boundaries, success only comes by working together. These CISMAs provides locally-led education and training and technical assistance to local citizens.

In 2018, 10 new CISMAs have formed and several others are in the early stages of getting organized. They are making a difference in neighborhoods, public lands, family farms, and landscapes across Indiana. CISMAs educational outreach efforts are inspiring people to work together and learn more about how to preserve their natural areas and save their lands and waters from the impacts of invasives.

For more information on establishing a CISMA in your area go to sicim.info/cismas or contact sicim.info@gmail.com. Also, see the included SICIM Assistance map for the specific contact person for your area.

Day 1 of National Invasive Species Awareness Week!

Today marks the beginning of the National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW). Organizations around the country are raising awareness about invasive species and identifying solutions to deal with them. We at SICIM will be featuring different posts throughout the week about what you can do to combat invasive plants and other species. To start, we’ll take a look at gardening.

Tis the season of gardening magazines and nursery centers starting to contact customers about plant and seed orders. Unfortunately, many suppliers do not list whether a plant is considered invasive in a given area. However, here are some tips before ordering plants for the season.

First, please consult the Indiana invasive plant list before making a purchase at https://www.entm.purdue.edu/iisc/invasiveplants.html. Second, if a supplier has a small text section under a species along the lines of “Sorry, this plant cannot be sent to ______,” that is not a good sign, and most likely indicates it is prohibited to be sold there due to invasiveness. Third, some suppliers are not great at including the exact common name or a scientific name, so try to error on the side of caution. If it looks dubious, like fast growing honeysuckle or burning hedge, it is wise to pass it up.

By just avoiding using invasive plant species, you can make a difference, and your neighbors and the environment will thank you. See image for three of the most popular (and detrimental) invasive plants in landscaping. Stay tuned for upcoming posts about invasive species initiatives, events, information about choosing native plant alternatives, and how to get involved.

Open Position: Full Time Seasonal Restoration Technician - Eco Logic LLC (Bloomington, IN)

Our friends at Eco Logic are taking applications for a Full-time Seasonal Restoration Technician for the 2019 field season. See attached description for more information or contact Phil Oser at phil@ecologicindiana.com.

Eco Logic LLC

8685 West Vernal Pike

Bloomington, IN 47404

www.ecologicindiana.com

Open Position:   Full – Time Seasonal Restoration Technician                     

Employment Timeframe:  April 15 – November 15

Compensation:  $13 - $14 / hour + Travel Costs

Eco Logic LLC is looking for a passionate and highly motivated individual who is interested in an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the field of ecological restoration.  We are looking for a team player who shares our commitment to the environment and values lifelong growth through education and personal improvement.  The purpose of this position is to assist with the completion of ecological restoration activities on nature preserves, parks, and private land throughout Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.  Preforming herbicide applications to control invasive plant species is an essential function of this position and will account for over 80% of the work performed during this timeframe.  Travel and overnights stays are also essential and could potentially be necessary for up to 70% of the projects.  Work is generally preformed Monday through Friday and all employees average 40-50 hours per week.  Eco Logic offers paid holidays on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day for all seasonal restoration technicians.

Principal Accountabilities

·       Arrive on time and well rested with all essential gear and personal supplies

·       Operate, load and unload large trucks and trailers safely on a daily basis

·       Mobilize, transport, use and maintain all tools and equipment in a safe manner

·       Utilize provided PPE, including insect repellants, in accordance with EPA and OSHA regulations

·       Operate off road vehicles and apply herbicide using backpack and tank sprayers

·       Operate GPS units and collect data in a standardized format on a daily basis

·       Operate brush cutters, gasoline drills and a variety of other small tools

·       Show discipline in filling out daily logs, timesheets and other essential paperwork

·       Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements

·       Possess a valid driver’s license and maintain a clean driving record

·       Possess or obtain a pesticide applicators license with the Office of the Indiana State Chemist

·       Knowledge of woodland, wetland and prairie plants native to Indiana and the Midwest.

·       Knowledge of plants invasive to Indiana and the Midwest.

·       Ability to lift and carry a 30 lbs. backpack sprayer for extended periods; hiking up to 12 miles a day

·       Ability to perform repetitive tasks such as lifting, digging, and hammering for extended periods

·       Ability to work in extreme weather conditions such as extreme heat and rain

·       Ability to work with frequent exposure to ticks, mosquitoes, poison ivy, stinging insects

·       Experience in the field of natural resource management [Preferred]

Competencies

·       Demonstrate clear communication with co-workers, supervisors and clients.

·       Demonstrate a commitment to a safe working environment.

·       Promotes Eco Logic's mission and shares our core values

·       Demonstrates clear communication with co-workers, supervisors and clients

·       Solves problems with a positive “can-do” approach  to challenges and obstacles

·       Demonstrate a positive attitude and team mentality

·       Proves to be a reliable person who shows up for work on time each day ready to contribute

Please e-mail resumes to:                                       Phillip Oser                                                         phil@ecologicindiana.com                                                                                                         

Eco Logic is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status.

Indiana Invasive Initiative Logo Contest Winner Chosen!

SICIM is proud to announce that we have chosen a final logo in our Indiana Invasives Initiative (III) logo contest. The III now has an easily recognizable logo to brand its work in managing invasives state-wide. Todd Axsom with Sage Graphic, LLC out of Solsberry, IN won the logo contest. SICIM was looking to brand invasive work for our state-wide campaign to protect Indiana’s native plants, wildlife, lands and waters by coordinating efforts to identify, prevent and control invasive species.

SICIM’s Chair Ray Chattin applauds Axsom’s logo saying, “This logo is the perfect brand to help us aggressively market our mission.”

There were 36 entries to the contest, and the board agreed the entries exhibited some incredible talent in the state. Axsom wins $500 for his design. The board liked several elements of his design including that it could be used as a full logo, words only, or as an icon; in black and white or in color.  “It was a logo that had a lot of flexibility and really captured the spirit of what we were looking for. We couldn’t be more pleased,” says Chattin.

Watch for the new III logo in publications state-wide. For more information on the Indiana Invasive Initiative visit our III page online, or call 812-653-5563.

Partial funding for SICIM is from USDA.  USDA and its partnering organizations are equal opportunity providers, employers and lenders.

Invasive Terrestrial Plant Rule - Update

View fullsize

Oriental Bittersweet (one of the species that would regulated under this rule); Photo taken by Emily Finch in Dubois County

Earlier this year SICIM shared the news that Indiana had developed a draft rule to regulate terrestrial invasive plants. We now have some more news as this rule moves to the next stage of the process.

Back in July, the draft rule was preliminary adopted by the Indiana Natural Resources Commission, which opened a public comment period that is still ongoing. Now a notice of intent has been posted in the Indiana register, and the timeline for this process has been updated to include a public hearing.

A public hearing will be held on December 19th at 10am in the Government Center North Building, 1st Floor, in Indianapolis. It has also been confirmed that the online comment period will remain open until the end of day on December 20th.

---

What does this mean?

View fullsize

Oriental Bittersweet vines (one of the species that would regulated under this rule); Photo taken by Emily Finch in Warrick County

While things are moving forward, we still need your help! It is not necessary to attend the public meeting, but written comments are extremely effective! If you haven’t commented yet please do so, and encourage others to comment as well. To comment, go to https://www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm.

The public hearing will be run by the Law Judge (Dawn Wilson, Administrative Law Judge). She will host the hearing in her office and open the meeting for comments. As mentioned above, written comments of support are more important than coming to the meeting in person. Although, we do hope  that representatives of various businesses and organizations attend the public hearing (Nursery, Landscaping, Purdue, Land Trusts, Special Interest, etc.) and provide support for the rule at that time. 

Now that the public hearing has been set, the rule process timeline has also been updated. This shows the projected timeline should the rule move forward, where it would still have to be reviewed by the Attorney General and signed by the Governor. The full timeline can be viewed at https://www.in.gov/nrc/files/lsa18316_timeline.pdf.

---

How to Comment

Use the following link: https://www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm to access the Indiana Natural Resources Commission's rule webpage. Then scroll to the bottom of the page to a list of rules that are open for comment.

Click on the “comment on this rule” link by the Terrestrial Invasive Plants rule, and you will be directed to a page that allows you to input personal data in required fields (name, city, county, email address) and a section to write a comment about the proposed rule.

If your comments require more space than allowed with the electronic form, please mail your comment with the LSA document number (LSA #18-316) to the following address: Natural Resources Commission, Division of Hearings, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2200.

Suggested Comments:
We suggest that you include these points in your comments:

• That you support the adoption of this rule;

• Specifically how you are impacted by invasive plants, and why it is important to you that this rule is adopted;

• That the 44 species in this rule are just the start, and that all other species that are ranked as highly invasive in Indiana should be added through amendments.

---

Browse the Gallery Below to See Some of the 44 Species Proposed for Regulation

View fullsize

Autumn Olive

View fullsize

Crown Vetch

View fullsize

Garlic Mustard

View fullsize

Japanese Chaff Flower

View fullsize

Japanese Stiltgrass

View fullsize

Wintercreeper

View fullsize

Japanese Knotweed

View fullsize

Tree of Heaven

View fullsize

Cut-leaf Teasel

View fullsize

Phragmites

View fullsize

Amur Bush Honeysuckle

View fullsize

Japanese Hop

Five Invasive Plants to Watch For this September

Did you know that you can support the management and regulation of invasive plants in Indiana, just with your smartphone or computer?  There are several invasive plants being assessed or reassessed by the Indiana Invasive Species Council to determine the threat they pose to Indiana.  The more information they have, the more accurate their assessments are.  For some species, we have very few reports of them escaping cultivation and invading, so every new report helps!

To report an invasive species, go to www.eddmaps.org/indiana, or use the GLEDN smartphone app.  Be sure to include pictures so your report can be confirmed.  (For instructions on how to report invasive species, go to https://www.entm.purdue.edu/iisc/index.html#gtco-report. 

Here's what to look for in September!

---

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) 

An annual invasive grass, look for dense patches of this invasive starting to seed in forests, along edges, roads, and trails.  The small oval shaped leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, and have a distinctive shiny/silver mid-rib.  For more information on identifying stiltgrass, check out our youtube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3lbumo0jjI&t=, or go to  https://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1457/ANR-1457.pdf.

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch in Switzerland County Indiana

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch in Switzerland County Indiana 

View fullsize

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

---

Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)

Mimosa is a popular landscape tree known for its showy pink pom-pom like flowers.  An invasive in the southern US, we are starting to see this tree escape cultivation in Indiana as well, particularly in the southern part of the state.  While Mimosa is not currently listed as an invasive species in Indiana, it is being evaluated, and every new report helps.  

This time of year, most adult mimosa trees are forming seed pods, which start out green and turn brown as they develop.  Mimosa leaves are twice compound (or bipinately compound).  

View fullsize

James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch; Lawrence County

View fullsize

Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch; Crawford County

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch; Lawrence County

---

Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis ternifolia) 

If you see vines covered in small white flowers, you could have the invasive Sweet Autumn Clematis, or Clematis terniflora. These vines were planted for their showy and fragrant flowers, but they area also aggressive and prolific seeders, creating a dense mat of vegetation as they grow over other plants blocking out sunlight.

To easily distinguish this invasive from our native Celmatis or Virgins Bower, just look at the leaves. If the edges of the leaves are smooth, it is invasive, the edges have teeth, it is native. http://www.mc-iris.org/native-or-invasive-clematis.html

View fullsize

Photo by Amber Slaughterbeck; Vigo County

View fullsize

Photo by Amber Slaughterbeck; Vigo County

View fullsize

Photo by Amber Slaughterbeck; Vigo County

---

Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya)

Chinese yam is an herbaceous vine that is spreading in Indiana.  It has heart to fiddle shaped leaves, mostly opposite along the stem, with strong curving veins.  You may also find aerial tubers along the stem.  For help identifying this species, check out our ID video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg3NA4TWtn8

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch; Dubois County 

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch; Dubois County

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch; Dubois County

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch; Dubois County

---

Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)

Chinese Silvergrass, also called Miscanthus, is a popular landscaping grass known for its dense clump forming nature and showy flower and seed heads.  During September this plant is starting to flower in Indiana, making it easier to spot escaping yard planting and spreading on roadsides and natural areas.  

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch; Orange County 

View fullsize

Photo by Emily Finch; Crawford County 

View fullsize

Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

SICIM Is Having A Logo Contest!

September 7, 2018.  The Indiana Invasives Initiative (III) needs an easily recognizable logo to brand its work in combatting invasives state-wide. “Its been a year since the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasive Management (SICIM) organization joined forces to launch a state-wide campaign to protect Indiana lands and waters by coordinating efforts to identify, prevent and control invasive species,” explained SICIM’s Chair Ray Chattin. “We now realize we need a logo to help us aggressively market our mission.”

Chattin announced the group is offering a $500 award to the logo they choose to represent the campaign. He said the group does not have a lot of expectations of what they want. The logo needs to be useable in both color and black and white and should be compatible if used with the existing SICIM logo. Board members thought the outline of the state of Indiana would be good to incorporate in the logo. The letters III and the words “Indiana Invasives Initiative” would be good to include in the logo as well. The logo should be a simple graphic but capture the idea that the campaign is about natural resources and invasive species. We recommend no more than three colors be used in the logo.

Logo submissions are due by October 31, 2018 and the selected logo becomes the property of SICIM. Submit all logos along with the designer’s name and contact information to sicim.info@gmail.com

Non-electronic files can be submitted to SICIM at 1919 Stevens Avenue, Bedford, IN  47421. For more information on this contest review the SICIM webpage at http://www.sicim.info/ or email or call 812-653-5563.

SICIM is hiring again!

SICIM is accepting applications for a NW Indiana regional specialist to work with the counties in the Arrowhead RC&D area (Newton, Jasper, Pulaski, White, Cass, Starke, Marshall, Fulton, Miami, and Kosciusko Counties) to develop a local Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA). 

The application deadline is September 14th. Questions regarding this position should be directed to Will Drews at willem.drews@in.nacdnet.net or by phone at 812-882-8210, ext.3.

To apply, submit a resume, cover letter, and three work-related references to Will Drews, SICIM Vice Chair, at: sicim.info@gmail.com .

See full job description here.