03/16/2024
YUCK - Callery/Bradford Pears.
Right now - March 16 - Callery Pear / Bradford Pear is blooming. While some might think these trees are pretty, they are in fact awful weeds.
Why? Because:
1. They're invasive - once thought sterile (and therefore harmless as introduced exotics), they now produce fertile seeds and the trees spread, choking out the native plants.
2. They're fakes - the flowers, while pretty, don't offer a thing in the way of nectar or pollen to any insects.
3. They're weak - the limbs are weak and the wood breaks easily.
4. They stink.
The prairie is dominated by grass and wildflowers. We do have some shrubs, let's keep it to the native, non-invasive varieties like Redbuds and Wild Plum. Do your prairie a favor - CUT DOWN the PEARS
Speaking of Wild Plum - it's not blooming yet - it will be blooming in early April.
Rough-leaf Dogwood - another white-blooming shrub (that is also invasive) - will be blooming in mid- to late-May.
