Environment Articles

Admit it. Rabbits are overtaking the neighborhoods. Cute? Yes. Destructive? Oh yes! Rabbits are here in unprecedented hordes.
 
In spite of their “cuteness,” wild rabbits can pose problems, some serious, for humans and pets, primarily through the transmission of diseases and parasites.

Purple creeping bellflower is an invasive plant from central and southern Europe, west Asia, and the Caucasus. It will easily take over a garden and choke out other plants.

The MnDNR says “Invasive species are species that are not native to Minnesota and cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” Wild parsnips are one of the latest “invasives” to show up in the region. The MnDNR says wild

Sometimes there are certain areas of the lawn that constantly cry for maintenance. Traditional bluegrass lawns demand food, water, temperate weather and are disease prone.
 
One local resident has researched alternatives and starting in the drought of 2023, is experimenting with perennial white mini-clover in a contained area.

Images of the Bradford pear tree (sometimes referred to as “Callery” pear) may appear in nursery catalogs cloaked in a solid sheath of white blossoms. Local nurseries sell them.
 
But buyer beware: Bradford pears may be a “wolf in sheep’s’ clothing.

By Barry Brown – Freeman Park Advocate
 
On June 11th your voice counts! People often ask: What are the plans for Freeman Park wooded areas and trails now that most of the buckthorn has been cleared from 20 acres of woodland? To be blunt, the City of Shorewood had no plan when they cleared the buckthorn except to utilize a $50,000 grant from the DNR that was about to expire, and still, has no workable plan today.

EPA Increases Enforcement Activities to Ensure Drinking Water Systems Address Cybersecurity Threats What is your city’s security plan? Source:  United States Environmental Protection Agency This Enforcement Alert provides community water systems (CWSs) with information on immediate steps they can take

By Barry Brown, Freeman Park Advocate — 
 
Freeman Park has 30 acres of ball fields for baseball, soccer and a variety of events, but there’s also 30 wooded acres that until now, has been neglected for decades. Now that 20+ acres of buckthorn has been removed, what do we do with the wooded areas and walking trails? Many people have contributed to a vision for the wooded areas, but City officials would not allow me to share this vision with City Council. So, I am sharing it broadly with the SCA readers. Our modest vision for 2024 improvements is affordable and realistic.