You can usually spot invasive plants in the spring by seeing what is greening up and flowering first, especially in warmer than usual seasons. The continuing high temperatures have a lot of non-native and/or invasive plant life springing up despite the fact it is winter, and Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) has been one that I noticed plenty of right now. It has been downright creepy to see so much green all over the ground, from the grass to species like this one conquering the leaf litter that has yet to decay. In certain locations in Connecticut, where there has not been a hard freeze at Stratford Point and other coastal areas, flowers are still in bloom that have never died back from the previous season yet! It is too much, really, and while I would rather keep on feeling the warmth when outside enjoying nature, I will take bundling up for a while in order to keep a semblance of the natural order of life in the outdoors.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
