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The INDEPENDENT, March 17, 2011
Can You Dig It?
By Schann Nelson
Columbia County Master Gardener
Way back in November, Extension Agent Chip Bubl wrote
about the legal definition of “noxious weed” contrasted to
the biological terms ‘aggressive’ and ‘invasive’. All of this
has been on my mind since, particularly the loss of local
habitat by the invasion of Reed canary grass (RCG)
Phalaris arundinacea. It appears that much of the Nehalem
watershed has been rapidly and permanently altered by the
aggressive and invasive growth of this grass. Every time I
drive over Highway 47 I am stunned by the change in the
landscape. Just to the east of the bridge of Johnson Road a
few years ago was a gentle meander of native ferns, cane berries, and low brush
and eventually a stupendous beaver pond – now it is a solid thatch of nasty looking
brown-yellow-gray grass. Strange too, is the view up the Nehalem from just before
the intersection with Timber Road. What was the gravel bottom of the river in 1996
is now the rapid foment of narrow river channels through thickets of this obnoxious
evergreen grass. What happens to the water as the riverbed becomes narrower?
So I’ve spent the day trying to find RCG listed as a noxious plant. I remain un-
successful. I did find the just released Garden Smart Oregon: Guide to Non-inva-
sive Plants, a lovely little publication that lists 25 common invasive species, each
accompanied by at least one native and one ornamental replacement species.
Download at www.oregon.gov/ODA .
Perhaps a return to definitions and some history will clarify my confusion. Nox-
ious weeds are legally specified by the State Weed Board as plants that cause
damage to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or any public or private
property and are divided into two classifications: The A List includes kudzu, giant
hogweed, and spartina. The B List includes ivy, knotweeds, garlic mustard and the
newly added Herb Robert. Who? It’s one of many low growing ‘wild geraniums’ that
flourish in driveways and disturbed soils and and are pretty much all on the list.
Covered Plants. For purposes of this rule the term “plants” applies to whole
plants, plant parts, and seeds. This rule applies to all “A” and “B” designated nox-
ious weeds listed, except as provided in subsections (c) and (d). Plants on the Fed-
eral Noxious Weed List (7 C.F.R. 360.200) are also covered by this rule, with the
exception of Japanese blood grass, Imperata cylindrica, var. Red Baron and Chi-
nese water spinach, Ipomoea aquatica.
RCG was apparently introduced as forage in the mid 1800s and remains one of
the best perennial forage grasses. It is cited as an alternative to timothy hay with a
potential for increased milk production, as a wastewater irrigation plant, as a biofu-
el, as a perennial grass associated with Neptune aggressively in-
vading mid elevation meadows. Finally, after many pages of
Google I found the Society of Ecological Restoration, NW Chap-
The entire list from the OAR is way too long to include here, but here are a few
that should be familiar:
• Butterfly bush — Buddleja davidii/varabilis* (*Effective January 1, 2010, all the prohibi-
tions of section (4) (a-d) apply. Plants being sold in Oregon that are labeled “Butterfly
Bush” are assumed to be B. davidii and will be subject to a stop sale order. ODA approved
sterile varieties of Buddleja including inter-specific hybrids are not regulated and may be
propagated and sold if labeled as follows: “Seedless Butterfly Bush*.” “*Produces less than
2% viable seed.”
• English ivy — Hedera helix/hibernica
• Spurges:
(i) Leafy — Euphorbia esula;
(ii) Myrtle — Euphorbia myrsinites.
• Giant horsetail — Equisetum telmateia
Church Directory
“What is a Missionary?” You can
find out at Missions Conference
“What is a Missionary?” Is it
the prize winning answer on
“Jeopardy” or the theme of Ver-
nonia’s Missions Conference
April 8-10, 2011? Both are
good-to-go.
Everyone is invited to meet
“foreign” missionaries Orin and
Rosa Kidd, Ben and Jennifer
Bogel and “home” missionary
Ellen Cook speaking at the Ne-
halem Valley Bible Church.
They will share their amazing
delights and the disturbances
of daily duties in Indonesian ar-
eas and also serving in the Pa-
cific Northwest.
Orin Kidd kicks-off the week-
end events on Friday at 7:00
p.m., followed by the popular
Saturday Men’s Breakfast at
8:00 a.m., featuring an inspira-
tional message from Ben Bo-
ter who say “It has become apparent however that RSG has some undesirable
characteristics. It grows from an underground system forming massive colonies that
crowd out other vegetation. It’s growth is so rapid and prolific and its environmen-
tal tolerances so broad, that it is fully capable of clogging stream channels, filling
shallow ponds and lakes, dramatically degrading fish and wildlife habitat and pre-
empting ecological restoration efforts.” (www.ser. org/ser.nw) Also on my side, was
ForestPests.org with good color pictures of the grass, its blooms and management
strategies.
So what can WE do?
Select non-invasive species and support those who sell these plants. Share non-
invasive plants (not the weeds) with other gardeners.
If you already have an invasive species, remove as much as possible, deadhead
to prevent the spread of seeds and replace as soon as possible with a non-invasive
species.
Dispose of plant material in the garbage. Some plants contain toxic oils and
should not be burned (i.e., poison oak) as the smoke can be very dangerous to
those affected. Composting generally is not a good method of destroying seed and
I would want to check with the vet before using most of these as animal feed, which
probably spreads the seed if included in what you are feeding.
Remember the sun can come out at any time. The organized are prepared to
rush out and prune or spray or divide or plant. The rest of us are reading seed cat-
alogues or exploring online resources. But here are two things that yield huge re-
sults later in the season if begun as early as possible. 1: Weeding, especially bien-
nial or perennial weeds like dandelion, dock and buttercups. 2: Bait for slugs – if
you kill them off now they won’t get big and ugly!
Weed early and often and, hopefully, you won’t feel like you are reenacting the
labors of Hercules!
gel. The warmth of Rosa, Jen-
nifer and Ellen highlight the
12:00 noon Ladies Tea. The
7:00 p.m. Saturday meeting
spotlights both Ben and Jen-
nifer, who are currently on fur-
lough in Astoria. Sunday, April
10, at 10:00 a.m., Ellen speaks
to all Sunday School classes
and Orin speaks during the
11:00 a.m. Worship Service. A
Potluck Lunch follows and all
are welcome to return for more
fellowship at 6:30 p.m. with the
full panel of missionary speak-
ers sharing one last time.
Reservations are needed for
meals, but all events are with-
out charge. Please call Pastor
Gary Taylor at 429-5378 to re-
serve a spot at the banquet ta-
bles. This should be a wonder-
ful weekend of fellowship.
V ERNONIA F OURSQUARE C HURCH
F IRST B APTIST C HURCH
P IONEER B APTIST F ELLOWSHIP
Carl Pense, Pastor
850 Madison Avenue, Vernonia
503 429-1103
Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 a.m.
Children’s Sunday School
Pastor John D. Murray
359 “A” Street, Vernonia
503 860-3860
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:00 p.m.
John Cahill, Pastor
939 Bridge Street, Vernonia
503-429-1161
www.pbfalive.com
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Thursday Prayer 7:00 p.m.
S EVENTH D AY A DVENTIST
Larry Gibson, Pastor
2nd Ave. and Nehalem St., Vernonia
503 429-8301
Morning Worship, 11:00 a.m.
Sabbath School 9:30 a.m.
A SSEMBLY OF G OD
Wayne and Maureene Marr
662 Jefferson Ave., Vernonia,
503 429-0373
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m
S T . M ARY ' S C ATHOLIC C HURCH
Rev. Luan Tran, Administrator
960 Missouri Avenue, Vernonia
503 429-8841
Mass Sunday 12:00 Noon
Religious Educ. Sunday 10:30 a.m.
V ERNONIA C OMMUNITY C HURCH
957 State Avenue, Vernonia
503 429-6790
Sunday Worship 9:45 a.m.
Children’s Church (Blast!) 10:15 a.m.
Nursery 10:15 a.m.
High School Youth 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Prayer 6:00 p.m.
Vernonia Community Preschool
V ERNONIA C HRISTIAN C HURCH
Sam Hough, Minister
410 North Street, Vernonia
503 429-6522
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
(meets in Youth & Family Center)
Home Group Meeting throughout
the week at various locations
N EHALEM V ALLEY B IBLE C HURCH
Gary Taylor, Pastor
Grant & North Streets, Vernonia
503 429-5378
Sunday School 10:00 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Nursery available
Wednesday Service 7:00 p.m.
C HURCH OF J ESUS C HRIST
OF L ATTER D AY S AINTS
Marc Farmer, Branch President
1350 E. Knott Street, Vernonia
503 429-7151
Sacrament Meeting, Sunday 10 a.m.
Sunday School & Primary 11:20 a.m.
Relief Society, Priesthood and
Young Women, Sunday 12:10 p.m.