Table of Contents

• Updates from DCIST

• Native Species Highlights

• Workshops and Volunteer Opportunities

  • Garlic Mustard Pulling!

  • Door County Invasive Species Field Training

  • June is Wisconsin Invasive Species Action Month

  • Invasive Species Awareness Weekend

  • Festival of Nature

  • Native Plant and Tree Give-Away

  • Discover Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks

  • Color Hike at Crossroads

  • 16th Annual Crossroads Trail Run & Walk

• News

  • Trillion Trees Pledge

  • Parsnip Predator

• Invasive Species Highlight

  • Garlic Mustard: Wisconsin’s Unwelcome Guest

• Get involved!

• Stay in touch!

Updates from DCIST

You might notice some new changes here. Welcome to DCIST’s new newsletter. For years, our newsletters were formatted in Word and then emailed out through our Gmail email account. While this old way was free (and who doesn't appreciate that?), it did pose a number of challenges. Anyone who has worked with Word knows the challenges that come with inserting photos. We also had no way to track who had opened and read the email. This new platform will also allow new individuals to easily sign up to receive DCIST’s newsletters in the future. This new format will also enable individuals to see what is being highlighted in the newsletter via the Table of Contents. These are active links, so if something of interest catches your eye, click on it and you’ll be taken to that section!

Permission forms were sent out to homeowners in March to allow DCIST access to their properties to conduct invasive species control. If you have not returned the form yet, there is still time to get it in and participate in our control program for this year.

Native Species Highlights

As spring unfolds into summer across Door County's landscapes, a vibrant tapestry of native wildflowers emerges from the warming soil. These seasonal bloomers not only paint our peninsula with stunning natural color but serve as crucial resources for local pollinators awakening from their winter dormancy. Door County is home to many beautiful native plants that have evolved alongside our local wildlife for thousands of years, creating ecological relationships that sustain the health of our unique environment. Below are a few species that highlight the importance of maintaining our native ecology. The plants below are only a sliver of the species Door County has to offer. While you are outside enjoying all Door County has to offer, help halt invasive species by reporting any populations on the GLEDN app and landscape with native species!

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum): is a distinctive woodland plant that forms dense colonies in forests and shaded areas. Dark green shoots emerge in early spring and soon unfold, revealing their umbrella-like leaves. Its uniqueness makes identification quite easy. Plants with two leaves produce a single flower that is hidden beneath the foliage. The pollinated flower results in a small fruit which resembles an apple, earning this plant its common name. The genus name (Podophyllum) comes from the Greek words pous or podos meaning foot and phyllon meaning a leaf with reference to the shape of the leaf.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis): is a distinctive woodland wildflower that is among the earliest wildflowers to bloom each spring. Flower emerge on individual stalks, often before the leaves fully unfurl. The genus name (Sanguinaria) comes from the Latin word sanguis meaning blood. The reddish sap that exudes from all parts of the plant, but especially the root, when cut is what prompted the common name of bloodroot.

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea): brings vibrant golden-yellow blooms to garden from late spring into early summer. Golden Alexanders are versatile plants and can thrive in a range of soil types and moisture. The plant is deer resistant and well suited to both sunny and partially shaded locations, making it an excellent addition to wildflower gardens. Additionally, it serves as a host plant for Black Swallowtail and Ozark Swallowtail butterflies. The specific epithet (aurea) means golden.

Workshops and Volunteer Opportunities

Garlic Mustard Pulling!

Garlic mustard is a serious threat to the biodiversity of our natural spaces, outcompeting native wildflowers and disrupting delicate ecosystems. You can help! Join fellow volunteers on Monday, May 19th, at 10:30 am at Ellison Bluff County Park for a garlic mustard pull. Your efforts will directly contribute to the health and preservation of this valuable county park.

Door County Invasive Species Field Training

DCIST would like to invite you to a fun-filled invasive species training to be held on June 5th, from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. You will learn more about field identification, safety, invasive species rules and regulations, and why protecting Door County from invasive species is so important. Register here for the event.

June is Wisconsin Invasive Species Action Month

June has been designated Invasive Species Action Month in our state, a time where educational efforts and information on invasive plants and animals becomes the focus. What better way to show your appreciation for the beautiful natural areas of Wisconsin than report invasive species and help prevent the spread of invasive species? With a few simple steps of cleaning your gear and reporting invasive species, you can help prevent spreading invasive species.

Invasive Species Awareness Weekend

Don't miss out! The second annual Invasive Species Awareness Weekend (ISAW) is happening June 21-22, 2025. This is your chance to learn about the invasive species impacting our natural spaces and take concrete steps to help. From educational programs to hands-on control events, there's a way for everyone to get involved! Learn about the events happening here: Invasive Species Awareness Weekend Events

Festival of Nature

The Door County Festival of Nature, happening May 22-25, 2025, has been brought to you by The Ridges Sanctuary and our partners in conservation to celebrate the natural beauty of the Door Peninsula. Each year we bring forward a slate of field trips, events and experiences to help you explore the unique natural systems found throughout Door County.

To register for events here: https://www.doorcountyfestivalofnature.org/

Native Plant and Tree Give-Away

The Big Plant, coordinated by the Climate Change Coalition of Door County, returns on Saturday, May 17, 2025, with the Door County Land Trust’s native tree and plant giveaway—an opportunity to bring more pollinator-friendly perennials and native trees into our landscapes.

In 2023, more than 15,000 trees were planted through The Big Plant thanks to the efforts of participating organizations. To ensure everyone can take part, the Door County Land Trust includes perennial plants in its giveaway, making it accessible to those with small yards, balconies, or apartments.

Discover Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks

Join us for this unique opportunity to connect with nature, learn about the environment, and enjoy the great outdoors at Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks! This guided hike invites nature enthusiasts of all levels to explore the diverse ecosystems and breathtaking landscapes of the preserve. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or new to the trails, we look forward to exploring this beautiful area with you.

June 7th @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am. No registration necessary. Meet in preserve parking lot. Preserve information can be found here: https://www.doorcountylandtrust.org/legacy-preserve-at-clay-banks/

Color Hike at Crossroads

Join Crossroad’s naturalist on June 7 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am to learn about the science of plant colors on a guided hike. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required.

16^th Annual Crossroads Trail Run & Walk

Door County’s first trail run welcomes runners & walkers or all ages and abilities to chose a 2k, 5k, or 10k distance at Crossroads at Big Creek Nature Preserve in Sturgeon Bay on June 21, 2025 at 8:00 am. Learn more and register here: Crossroads Trail Run & Walk

News

Trillion Trees Pledge

Wisconsin made significant progress in global reforestation efforts by planting over 10 million trees in 2024, contributing to the worldwide Trillion Tree Pledge. This initiative, which aims to combat climate change and restore ecosystems, saw participation from state agencies, conservation groups, and private landowners. The trees planted will help improve air and water quality, provide wildlife habitat, and support Wisconsin’s forestry industry. The state’s efforts are part of a larger commitment to plant one trillion trees globally, highlighting Wisconsin’s leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainability. Read the whole article here: Trillion Trees Pledge

Parsnip Predator

Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is an aggressive plant that is commonly found in sunny areas such as roadsides, prairies, and field edges throughout the state. Flowering plants reach 4 to 5 feet tall and have large, flat clusters of yellow flowers that blooms in early to mid-summer. The plant spreads rapidly by seed and thrives in disturbed areas. Wild parsnip poses a health risk because its sap can cause severe skin burns and blisters when exposed to sunlight. This risk makes early identification and removal critical.

The best way to control wild parsnip is to physically remove the plant by cutting the taproot 1-2 inches below the soil surface suing a sharp shovel, spade, or specialized tool like the Parsnip Predator. This is most effective when done before the plant sets seed. Always wear protective clothing when handling wild parsnip to avoid skin irritation from its sap. The video below, from The Prairie Enthusiasts, shows the Parsnip Predator in action!

Invasive Species Highlight

Garlic Mustard: Wisconsin’s Unwelcome Guest

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an herbaceous biennial, meaning it has a two-year life cycle. In its first year, garlic mustard forms a rosette of round, scallop-edged leaves that remain semi-evergreen through winter and then in the second year the plant sends up a flower stem with small white flowers. When crushed, the plant emits a garlic-like odor, which is how it earned its common name. Garlic mustard was introduced to North America by early European settlers who brought it for culinary and medicinal purposes. In recent years, the “if you can’t beat it, then eat it” movement has inspired some people to harvest and eat this invasive species, most commonly as a pesto ingredient.

Garlic mustard’s invasive success is due to several characteristics: it produces a large number of seeds (one plant can produce up to 8,000), grows early in the season, releases chemicals that alter soil composition (allelopathy), and thrives in a wide range of habitats, including open woodlands, wetlands, old fields, and disturbed areas. These traits give it a competitive edge over Wisconsin’s native plants. Garlic mustard invasions can lead to the loss of wildlife food sources and habitat, alter soil conditions to the detriment of other plant species, and reduce native plant diversity.

For small populations, mechanical methods such as hand-pulling can be effective if care is taken to remove as much of the root system as possible. Controlled burns may also help manage populations. For dense or established infestations, foliar herbicide treatments (such as a 1–2% glyphosate solution) are often most effective; apply early in spring or late in fall when native plants are dormant. Pulled plants should not be composted, as most compost piles do not reach temperatures high enough to kill the seeds-bagging or burning is recommended for disposal.

Garlic mustard is listed as a Restricted species under Wisconsin’s NR 40 rule, meaning it is illegal to transport, transfer, or introduce this invasive plant. If you suspect you have garlic mustard on your property, contact DCIST for identification and management guidance, or report sightings using the GLEDN app. Early detection and removal are key to preventing the spread of this harmful invader.

Get involved!

DCIST relies on volunteers to help collect data on where invasive plants and animals are found in Door County. If you’re interested in helping, DCIST can provide training on the use of handheld GPS units or you can also use the GLEDN app to report findings via your smartphone.  Contact DCIST at [email protected] for more information or learn how to download and use the app at https://fyi.uwex.edu/wifdn/. Keep an eye out for our next newsletter and keep up to date on our DCIST website at https://doorinvasives.org. We will be posting any and all additional training opportunities & educational materials as we receive them.

Stay in touch!

The Door County Invasive Species Team – Jason Miller, Coordinator
DCIST Message Line: 920-746-5955
Email: [email protected] 
Check out our website at https://doorinvasives.org