PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Board is fighting an invasive plant with seeds of plants more fruitful for the environment.
Board members are seeking volunteers who, like Johnny Appleseed in the 1800s, will help spread the wealth of non-invasive and pollinator-friendly flower seeds to crowd out scotch broom.
In each Bee-U-Tify packet, “you’ll find lupine, coreopsis, echinacea, cosmos, sunflower, clover, sage, bee balm and 10 more good-for-the-environment seeds,” said Shelley Taylor, who is promoting the annual effort.
“By planting Bee-U-Tify seeds in your yard and controlling noxious weeds on your property, you’re doing your part to protect ecosystems and agriculture — [all] while preserving and creating quality forage for pollinators,” she added.
In another way to call attention to scotch broom, the board has launched the inaugural Show Us Your Weeds Scotch Broom Photography Contest.
“We’re looking for an image filled with the ubiquitous and deceptively beautiful yellow flowers in full bloom,” Taylor said.
“Your entry could feature a field of scotch broom or one spectacular shrub so huge you might mistake it for a tree.”
Crowds out other plants
While pretty, scotch broom — seen springing up in lawns, next to roadways and in meadows — is an invasive weed that crowds out native plants.
An upright perennial shrub in the pea family, scotch broom grows from 3 feet to 12 feet tall.
Bright-yellow flowers bloom from March to June.
The European native is classified as a noxious invasive species in California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
Methods of eradication include manually uprooting the plants, using herbicides to kill them or simply introducing native species that have the potential to out-compete this shrub — the latter method being the catalyst behind the Bee-U-Tify program.
“You can help prevent this and other invasive plants from taking over your garden or landscaping by planting a blend of beneficial flowers to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators,” Taylor said.
The packets “were developed by the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board that counts farmers, ecologists and a beekeeper as members,” Taylor said.
“Our local county noxious weed control board has purchased these seed packets and made them available for free,” she said.
“Last year, the Clallam weed board distributed over 1,600 packets locally. We’re just getting started. This year, we hope to do more.”
Pick up seeds
Seed packets can be picked up at several locations:
■ Clallam County WSU Extension Office, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
■ Peninsula Daily News, 305 W. First St., Port Angeles.
■ Port Angeles City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St., Port Angeles.
■ Community development offices, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
■ Clallam Conservation District, 228 W. First St., Port Angeles.
■ KSQM radio office, 577 W. Washington St., Sequim.
■ KONP radio office, 721 E. First St., Port Angeles.
■ Sequim City Hall, 152 W. Cedar St., Sequim.
■ Forks City Hall, 500 E. Division St., Forks.
Seed packets also can be requested by calling 360-417-2442, visiting www.clallam.net/weed or emailing noxiousweeds@agr.wa.gov.
Photo contest
Entries in the photography contest must be submitted to web_weed@co.clallam.wa.us no later than June 30.
Winners will be announced in July, with the date and place to be determined.
“Your contest participation will create awareness to the extensive loss of habitat for our beneficial native plants and the wildlife — on land and in water — that depend on natural habitat,” Taylor said.
The winners will receive a dinner for two at Wildfire Grill (first place), a lunch for two at the Old Mill Cafe (second place) and a $25 gift certificate (third place).
Each entrant can submit up to three images.
Each entry must include the subject’s location and the photographer’s email address, phone number and mailing address.
Entries must be submitted via email to qualify and the subject line must read: “Show Us Your Weeds Scotch Broom Photography Contest 2016.”
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
