'Once you see it, you can't unsee it': The 'road-trip ruiner' plant is spreading
It's invasive phragmites, dubbed "Ontario's worst invasive plant" by Agriculture and Agrifood Canada in 2005.
Conservationists say that once you see it, you can't unsee it -- but there are a few things you can do to stop its spread.
File photo of phragmites (via Canva Pro)
But first, a bit about this dangerous species.
Phragmites (Phragmites australis australis) is described by the Invasive Species Centre as "an invasive grass with blue-green leaves and large, fluffy seedheads" that forms in tall, dense stands.
It prefers wet environments and places where water accumulates. Once settled it outcompetes native plants, hinders recreational activities, reduces visibility for motorists due to its towering height, and increases wildfire risk.
It's originally from Europe. In southern Ontario, seeds spread by hitching a ride on boats, bicycles, hiking boots, and ATVs, among other things.
File photo highlighting how tall phragmites can get.(JM Gilbert/Ministry of Natural Resources)
The Ontario Phragmites Action (OPA) program has dubbed the plant the 'road trip ruiner' and is urging the public to take action to stop the spread of phragmites this summer.
The joint initiative by the Invasive Species Centre, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and other provincial partners says people can help by:
Learning how to identify invasive phragmites.
Cleaning recreational equipment (hiking boots, bikes, ATVs/UTVs, and boats) before moving to another location.
Reporting phragmites sightings through EDDMapS or iNaturalist.
If you have phragmites on your property, do not mow it: this can help spread seeds. Ontario Invasive Species Council has put together a PDF guide on how to manage phragmites (disposal recommendations start at page 62 of the linked document).
Oh, and by the way: goats love phragmites. If you're looking for an environmentally-friendly way to rid yourself of the plants, consider hiring a herd to mow down the problem. Your lawn will be phragmite free, the goats will be fed, and you'll get to hang out with friendly farm animals for a bit.
Everybody wins.
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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
The Latest: Powerful waves hit Russian islands and Japan after 8.8-magnitude earthquake
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Tsunami alert in Japan complicates transportation Ferries connecting Hokkaido and Aomori on the northern tip of Japan's Honshu island were suspended, as well as those connecting Tokyo and nearby islands. Some local train operations have been suspended or delayed as well, according to operators. Sendai airport says its runway has been temporarily closed. Tsunami waves detected at multiple points on Japan's Pacific coast Japan Meteorological Agency says a tsunami as high as 40 centimeters (1.3 feet) has been detected at 16 locations as the waves have moved south along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido down to just northeast of Tokyo. Officials urge residents to use caution as bigger waves could come later. New Zealand warns of 'strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges' along its coastlines New Zealand authorities issued warnings of 'strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges' along all coastlines of the South Pacific island nation. Waves were not expected to arrive until late Wednesday night local time, officials said. The alert sent to New Zealanders' phones by the government emergency management agency said people should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbors, marinas, rivers and estuaries, but officials stopped short of issuing evacuation warnings. Japanese nuclear power plants stop work Japanese nuclear power plants along the Pacific coasts have suspended their work schedule in response to the tsunami alert, but so far no abnormalities have been reported. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, said about 4,000 workers are taking shelter at higher grounds on the plant complex while monitoring remotely to ensure plant safety. Its release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea is also temporarily suspended as a cautionary step. Russian scientists call the earthquake a 'unique event' The 8.8-magnitude earthquake was the strongest to hit that area in Kamchatka since 1952, according to the local branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In a statement posted on their Telegram channel, they called the earthquake a 'unique event.' They said the epicenter was near a recent earthquake that struck the peninsula on July 20. While the situation 'was under control,' they said there are risks of aftershocks, which could last for up to a month, and warned against visiting certain coastal areas. Oregon officials say small tsunami expected to reach the state's coastline The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said on Facebook that small tsunami waves were expected to reach parts of the state's coastline starting around 11:40 p.m. local time, with wave heights between 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters). It urged people to stay away from beaches, harbors and marinas and to remain in a safe location away from the coast until the advisory is lifted. 'This is not a major tsunami, but dangerous currents and strong waves may pose a risk to those near the water,' the department said. Oregon is under a tsunami advisory, along with much of the U.S. West Coast spanning British Columbia, Washington state and California. ___ This item has been updated to correct that wave heights are expected to reach between 1 and 2 feet, not 1 and 3 feet. The Philippines warns residents of possible tsunami waves Philippine authorities warned provinces and towns along the archipelago's eastern coast facing the Pacific of possible tsunami waves of less than 1 meter (3 feet) that could hit between 1:20 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. (local time) and advised people to stay away from the beach and coastal areas. 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Travel Weekly
12-07-2025
- Travel Weekly
Patagonian moments on Australis Cruises sailing
"Would you like to have a Patagonia moment?" our Chilean guide asks us, 40 minutes into our sentry duty at the base of the Pia Glacier in Tierra del Fuego: "Te invito a tener un momento de silencio?" Twenty yapping voices are quieted in the vastness of this pinpoint at the edge of the earth. I hear a deep rumbling and cracking, like the timbers of a ship being crushed by ice, before a hunk breaks free from the mass to which it's been attached for the last 400 to 500 years and crashes into the frigid water to begin its cycle once again. Zodiacs provide incredible access to glaciers in Tierra del Fuego's narrow fjords. Photo Credit: Megan Padilla Few people have witnessed this glacier calving because of its remote location in a fjord off the Beagle Channel near the farthest tip of South America. Access to one of the planet's most remote coastlines is what lures guests aboard Australis Cruises' Ventus and Stella. The 200-passenger sister ships crisscross the southern fjords of Patagonia between the Chilean port of Punta Arenas and Argentina's Ushuaia on four-night trips that run nonstop September to April, during the South American summer. The only way to see this dramatic and desolate scenery carved by ice is by boat, through the same passageways famously charted in the age of exploration. Australis has been dedicated to this route since 1990. For most guests, it is a one-way leg in a broader journey, whether as part of a South American tour package or a custom itinerary crafted by a travel advisor. Since I'd be flying 27 hours, from Minneapolis through the Chilean capital of Santiago to Punta Arenas, to experience an Australis cruise, I opted for a roundtrip that would take nine days. An AA Twin cabin. There are 100 cabins in six categories on the Ventus and the Stella, and each cabin has a large window. 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When the bird-watcher with the long camera lens rushes out to the deck, so do I. Nesting Magellanic penguins on Magdalena Island. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Australis/Florian Grieger Small-ship expedition cruises can go where larger ships can't. In nine days I spot a total of five other vessels. Two are sailboats, and one is our sister ship. Instead of docking at ports for excursions, guests load onto Zodiacs to be ferried to shore for hikes or go on a nature cruise for close-up viewing of glaciers, nesting seabirds, sea lions and penguins. The excursions are the highlight of each day, and the Australis expedition team's passion and knowledge are equally matched. Every Zodiac excursion begins by mustering in a lounge. Guests sort themselves into Spanish and English groups; the passenger manifest represents all 11 nationalities of the explorers who mapped the south part of Fireland (Tierra del Fuego) from 1520 to 1970: Portugal, Spain, England, the Netherlands, France, the U.S., Italy, Argentina, Austria, Germany and New Zealand. Guests arrive in head-to-toe layers, bulky orange life jackets buckled over the top, armored for adventure. The Cape Horn lighthouse. The captain and crew make every effort for a landing at the legendary spot. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Australis Calling on Cape Horn Though the roundtrip covers the same route, it looks different in reverse. A few excursions are repeated, including a second chance to land at Cape Horn; at the northern edge of the Drake Passage, Cape Horn is one of the world's most notorious shipwreck graveyards. For many passengers, this is the "life list" item they've come to check off. 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Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
'Once you see it, you can't unsee it': The 'road-trip ruiner' plant is spreading
It's found along highways, ditches, and shorelines in southern Ontario, and it can grow to staggering heights, sometimes towering more than five metres above the ground. It's invasive phragmites, dubbed "Ontario's worst invasive plant" by Agriculture and Agrifood Canada in 2005. Conservationists say that once you see it, you can't unsee it -- but there are a few things you can do to stop its spread. File photo of phragmites (via Canva Pro) But first, a bit about this dangerous species. Phragmites (Phragmites australis australis) is described by the Invasive Species Centre as "an invasive grass with blue-green leaves and large, fluffy seedheads" that forms in tall, dense stands. It prefers wet environments and places where water accumulates. Once settled it outcompetes native plants, hinders recreational activities, reduces visibility for motorists due to its towering height, and increases wildfire risk. It's originally from Europe. In southern Ontario, seeds spread by hitching a ride on boats, bicycles, hiking boots, and ATVs, among other things. File photo highlighting how tall phragmites can get.(JM Gilbert/Ministry of Natural Resources) The Ontario Phragmites Action (OPA) program has dubbed the plant the 'road trip ruiner' and is urging the public to take action to stop the spread of phragmites this summer. The joint initiative by the Invasive Species Centre, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and other provincial partners says people can help by: Learning how to identify invasive phragmites. Cleaning recreational equipment (hiking boots, bikes, ATVs/UTVs, and boats) before moving to another location. Reporting phragmites sightings through EDDMapS or iNaturalist. If you have phragmites on your property, do not mow it: this can help spread seeds. Ontario Invasive Species Council has put together a PDF guide on how to manage phragmites (disposal recommendations start at page 62 of the linked document). Oh, and by the way: goats love phragmites. If you're looking for an environmentally-friendly way to rid yourself of the plants, consider hiring a herd to mow down the problem. Your lawn will be phragmite free, the goats will be fed, and you'll get to hang out with friendly farm animals for a bit. Everybody wins.
