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cted by MR is -10^5; way less tha --001a113db3509e44f0055facf354 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Another "David" here. An interesting, worthwhile debate. A few thoughts. Multiflora rose, while it had been here 100 years and more, seems to have taken off recently as an invasive in NS (or in a new wave of invasiveness) sometime after 2000. Did that stem from threshold changes in disturbance or vehicles of movement, or did a particular line have traits that make it especially invasive (or some combination of the two); it seems a genetic study could sort that out. Are there less invasive strains that could be used as ornamentals/to attract and feed birds? I have conducted some documentation of the spread of R. multiflora in the Halifax area, Point Pleasant Park in particular. See versicolor.ca/multiflorarose We might keep in mind that about 1/3 of our flora is of exotic origin at least in recent centuries, and mostl of these species are plants of disturbed habitats, perhaps all (except (glossy buckthorn?) are not shade tolerant; their introduction since European colonizations reflects the greater abundance of ruderal species in Europe & Asia because of a longer history of extensive human disturbance than in NA. On the whole these immigrants perform important ecological functions and do not seriously threaten native plant communities. (Surely the loss of weedy species under our now super efficient glyphosate weed control is a big factor in decline of many species). Perhaps where they do threaten native plant communities in NS that is a transient process as it likely was for many of the exotic species for a period after they first arrived. NS is likely species depauperate because of the short time since the glaciers retreated and our relative isolation as a peninsula on the Atlantic coast, so in a sense we are "open for business" when it comes to immigration of new plant species. I think we should be very actively conducting Assisted Migration, particularly for forest species, to increase species diversity and resilience in the face of climate change. Anyway, a few thoughts for the mix. PS: I have spent some time cutting back multiflora rose near The Bluff Trail trailhead, as it is still not abundant along the rails to trail BLT, and so far there are no exotics once you get 5 m into the trail, so it takes little effort at this point to keep it out. I do not have R multiflora in my back yard but if I could obtain a non-invasive type, I would welcome it both as an ornamental and as bird food. I do not keep bird feeders because they encourage everything I don't want, rats, squirrels and pigeons amongst them. On Wed, Dec 6, 2017 at 8:49 AM, Randy Lauff <randy.lauff@gmail.com> wrote: > Why do birds have the only meaningful vote? That is simply ridiculous, > David. Do our own native plants not have such a vote? I suspect that they > would vote them "off the island", and occupy the space themselves. > > I have actually thought about the SI Ponies. If SI is designated an > historic site (is it?), then the ponies are part of the culture. There is > no fear of them spreading anywhere. MR - is invasive. > > We need to look at the big picture...not just that MR is "good for the > birds" (when in fact it is only good for *some* birds). Our native roses > are good for the birds in this context, too. > > Randy > > _________________________________ > RF Lauff > Way in the boonies of > Antigonish County, NS. > > On 5 December 2017 at 18:40, David <dwebster@glinx.com> wrote: > >> Hi Randy & All, >> In such matters the birds have the only meaningful vote and they hav= e >> made their approval of MR very clear. In late winter, on calm sunny days= , >> the nearby MR patch looks like Grand Central Station; much coming and go= ing >> and the lawn becomes sprinkled with closely spaced red splotches. >> >> I suspect you are just pulling our leg Randy so in that vein, I >> suggest you should get that program to eradicate the Sable Island ponies= in >> motion and when they are history, move on to eradicating MR; my patches >> dead last. >> YT, DW, Kentville >> >> ------ Original Message ------ >> From: "Randy Lauff" <randy.lauff@gmail.com> >> To: "NatureNS" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> >> Sent: 12/5/2017 6:14:14 PM >> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Multiflora Rose >> >> Why not, Paul? >> Randy >> >> On Dec 4, 2017 4:05 PM, "rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca" < >> rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote: >> >>> I don't think so Randy! >>> Enjoy the fall >>> Paul >>> >>> >>> On December 4, 2017 at 10:24 AM Randy Lauff <randy.lauff@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>> It would be great if this introduced plant would be eradicated. Let >>> native plants feed the birds. >>> >>> Randy >>> >>> _________________________________ >>> RF Lauff >>> Way in the boonies of >>> Antigonish County, NS. >>> >>> On 3 December 2017 at 09:01, David <dwebster@glinx.com> wrote: >>> >>> Hi Nancy & All, >>> It is especially appreciated in late winter to judge from bird >>> activity in the nearby bushes and red splotches in the snow. It would b= e >>> great if the thornless strain could become predominant. >>> YT, DW, Kentville >>> >>> >>> ------ Original Message ------ >>> From: "nancy dowd" < nancypdowd@gmail.com> >>> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca >>> Sent: 12/3/2017 6:50:39 AM >>> Subject: [NatureNS] Multiflora Rose >>> >>> Overlooking its faults, Multiflora Rose is a seriously bird-friendly >>> shrub judging by the number of pictures on the NSBS Facebook page latel= y >>> showing regular and unusual birds in its branches and feeding on the >>> rosehips. One has to wonder if it=E2=80=99s spread has contributed to t= he number of >>> migrants lingering later into the Fall and Winter? It certainly seems t= o >>> help them survive at least. >>> >>> Nancy >>> >>> Sent from my iPad >>> >>> >>> >>> >> > --001a113db3509e44f0055facf354 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Another "David" here. An interesting, worthwhile= debate. A few thoughts.<div><br></div><div>Multiflora rose, while it had b= een here 100 years and more, seems to have taken off recently as an invasiv= e in NS (or in a new wave of invasiveness)=C2=A0 sometime after 2000.