GardenSmart Oregon is a publication about invasive species and gardening alternatives to invasive plants. It also includes a "to do" list for gardeners.

1. GardenSmart Oregon A Guide to Non-Invasive Plants Download at: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/ec/ec1620.pdf Linda R McMahan, OSU Extension Service, Yamhill County OSU Plant ID Pictures used by permission of Patrick Breen © Oregon State University

2. This publication is a “landmark collaboration” among many organizations, including the City of Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting, the Oregon Association of Nurseries, and the OSU Extension Service

3. Part of “The Silent Invasion” GardenSmart was part of a campaign throughout Oregon to raise awareness about invasive species. The following slide shows the Oregon Public Broadcasting webpage on this campaign, called “The Silent Invasion” as it appeared last year. As an exercise, visit the current website and explore it for additional information.

4. http://www.opb.org/programs/invasives/

5. Invasive Facts – Invasive Species are A Serious Problem Invasive Species Defined - a species that is non-native or alien to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health http://www.wildflower.org/invasive/PW_Brochure.pdf

6. Invasive Facts http://www.wildflower.org/invasive/PW_Brochure.pdf • Invasive species are the # 1 threat to native biodiversity on protected lands • Invasive plants are spreading over approximately 1,729,730 acres per year of U.S. wildlife habitat • Scientists estimate that invasive plants cost our economy $35 billion or more in damages and treatment each year

7. The identity of some of our Invasive Species May Surprise You For example, take a look at the poster shown on the next slide. This was published by the City of Springfield, Oregon

8. A new “look” at butterfly bush courtesy of the City of Springfield OR http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/ESD/ButterflyBush.jpg

9. So Why is Gardening so Important for Invasive Species? The plants featured in GardenSmart Oregon were introduced intentionally, primarily for gardens and landscapes 4,000 or more plant species are introduced into the US, 1 in 10 have become invasive, and half of these are of horticultural origin

10. Here are Some of the Gardening Pathways for Invasive Plants Intentional planting for ornamental value, such as butterfly bush Seed mixes that contain plants with invasive potential or unintended weed seeds Weed seeds as contaminants in bird seed

11. A Closer Look at GardenSmart Oregon

12. GardenSmart Oregon features information about known invasive plants and provides garden alternatives Included is one featured native plant and several additional Oregon native plants for each invasive ornamental One featured “ornamental” plant and other alternatives as well

13. Butterfly bush as shown in GardenSmart Oregon

14. Butterfly bush Invading a creeksidein Oregon’s lower elevation Cascades Photo courtesy of Brad Withrow-Robinson, OSU Extension, used by permission

15. GardenSmart Featured Native Plant: Blueblossom Ceanothusthyrsifolius http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants

16. GardenSmart Featured Ornamental Alternative Meyer lilac – Syringameyeri http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants

17. Another ornamental that has become invasive: English ivy – Hedera helix – invading Forest Park in Portland

18. Another Exercise Visit the OSU Extension Yamhill County Site to view a fact sheet on controlling English Ivy. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/yamhill/controlling-invasive-plants

19. GardenSmart Featured Native – Dunes Strawberry Fragariachiloensis http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants

20. Gardensmart Featured Ornamental – Allegheny Spurge Pachysandra procumbens http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants

21. Creeping raspberry Rubuscalycinoides http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants

22. What You as Gardeners Can Do Learn about invasives. Read GardenSmart Oregon Start at home. Remove invasive species or interrupt their reproduction by deadheading or other methods Don’t trade invasive plants with other gardeners Check the contents of seed mixes before you purchase or plant them

23. What You as Gardeners Can Do (More) Support nurseries that offer alternatives to invasive plants Be especially careful if you have a water garden to keep plants from entering native waterways

24. What You as Gardeners Can Do (More) Share the word with other gardeners Join a local group that helps eliminate invasive plants from natural areas Dispose of invasive plants appropriately Check plant pots before you plant them to catch the “hitchhikers”

25. Some things I learned from Working on GardenSmart. . . The featured native plants tend to be more drought tolerant than the “ornamentals” Many of the plants often recommended are invasive somewhere in the world US natives from other states are showing fewer invasive tendencies in the rest of the US than are Asian and European species

26. Thank You! Yellow Flag Iris, a recently listed Oregon invasive plant I hope you have enjoyed this brief introduction to GardenSmart Oregon and Invasive Species Information Stay tuned to new information on invasive species as it emerges