Many of the plants that Southerners are most familiar with—think kudzu, English ivy, honeysuckle—are actually non-native plants that were introduced from elsewhere and have now become problems for the ecosystem. There are many species dubbed “invasive plants,” and the threat they pose to the native landscape has led to the creation of organizations for concerned horticulturists, biologists, and generally concerned citizens. Connie Gray, president and ecological resource specialist for the Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council will appear at the chapel in Oxford College on at 2 p.m. on February 12 to deliver a lecture that will address such questions as why invasives are a problem, which invasives should be concentrated most on, and how to select plants that are alternative to invasives. The lecture will be followed by a hands-on demonstration in the Oxford College forest.
Gray holds an undergraduate degree in horticulture and master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia. Her background in horticulture, integrated pest management, and landscape architecture has resulted in a specialization in natural plant communities and restoration of natural areas, particularly in urban areas.
The workshop is open to the public, and there is no cost to attend.
