October 9, 2024 -
The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) launched this newsletter to connect with forest landowners and all who love forests. Here we’ll share news, services, assistance programs and more. You’re receiving this newsletter because you previously signed up for DOF announcements. Help us spread the word by encouraging others interested in Virginia’s forests — and forestry — to sign up below. Interested in a specific forestry topic? Contact us. DOF Response... Read More
September 23, 2024 -
This grass may look harmless, but it wants to use you and your pets for a free ride. The seeds of wavyleaf grass (Oplismenus undulatifolius) stick to everything, easily spreading this invasive across Virginia’s forests, replacing our native plants and wildflowers. Wavyleaf grass thrives in shaded forest understories, especially along forest trails looking for a free ride. Wavyleaf grass produces seeds August – November. Here’s what you can do to prevent... Read More
September 18, 2024 -
This time of year there are several berry-producing shrubs in Virginia. Let’s compare two you’re likely to see: the native spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and invasive amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). Spicebush is hardy to various soil conditions, produces pollinator-friendly yellow blooms in spring and golden fall foliage, hosts the stunning spicebush swallowtail butterfly, and its berries are a favorite of many songbirds. Amur honeysuckle is an imported non-native and has become... Read More
December 9, 2022 -
By Cory Swift-Turner, Communications Specialist Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a coniferous tree that favors the cool and humid climate along the Appalachian Mountains. Hemlocks can grow more than 150 feet tall and live for more than 800 years. Their short, dense needles provide excellent habitat for many kinds of wildlife, from warblers to bobcats. Unfortunately, healthy hemlocks are becoming increasingly rare. In the early 1950s, an invasive insect called... Read More
June 9, 2022 -
By Amanda Conrad, DOF Forest Health Technician The vibrant, metallic green of an emerald ash borer (EAB) makes it look like royalty of the forest. But this beautiful, invasive insect is also deadly. Just one beetle can lay 40-70 eggs on the bark of its preferred host: ash trees. The growing larvae disrupt the flow of water throughout the tree, which will ultimately kill the tree. A healthy ash tree... Read More
May 26, 2022 -
By Katlin Dewitt, DOF Forest Health Specialist Can a fire alarm alert you to an invasive insect? Technically, no, but it seems an appropriate way to raise awareness about the red imported fire ant! The red imported fire ant (RIFA) is native to central South America and was first detected in either Alabama or Florida between 1933 and 1945. In Virginia, this species was first detected in 1989, and so... Read More
February 23, 2022 -
By Lori Chamberlin, DOF Forest Health Manager If you are in search of a fun winter activity, look no further! The spotted lanternfly (or SLF, for short), an invasive insect that was discovered in Virginia in 2018, continues to spread, and we need your help finding egg masses. Spotted lanternfly egg masses are laid in the fall, survive through the winter, and then hatch in the spring. Each egg mass... Read More
September 29, 2021 -
By Ellen Powell, DOF Conservation Education Coordinator I know what you’re thinking. But no, the vine that ate Charlottesville isn’t kudzu. It’s porcelain-berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata). You might know this species as an ornamental vine, often seen spilling over pergolas in fancy gardens. It’s great for covering a bare patch of ground or an unsightly old shed. The fruits are quite beautiful, with pale green, lavender, magenta, and blue berries often... Read More
May 11, 2021 -
Blue Ridge PRISM’s Summer Invasive Plant Workshop (virtual) will help you learn to identify and manage those invasive plants that are best controlled during the summer months. Topics covered in this session include: Identifying invasive plants Which invasives you can best kill now Which invasives you should treat later Best seasonal practices for each invasive Using manual and mechanical control methods Methods for controlling invasives with herbicides Choosing the right herbicide... Read More
