Shorline Plants of Pigeon Lake - Shoreline health is critical for a healthy lake. This is is a 3-part presentation filled with photos from Pigeon Lake on to steward the shoreline plants.

1. Riparian / Shoreline Plants in
the Pigeon Lake Area
What’s a Wildflower?
What’s a Weed?
Part 3 of 3
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2. Parts, Sections & Content:
Slides
1 I. Riparian / Shoreline Areas 4 - 13
II. Native Trees & Shrubs for Riparian Areas 15 - 23
III. Native Grass, Reeds, Sedges & Bulrushes 23 – 34
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IV. Native Wild Flowers for Riparian Areas 6 - 20
3 I. Weeds found in Riparian Areas 1 – 23
I. Other Resources Near End Part 3
II. Acknowledgements End of Each Part
Also:
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• Valuable & Interesting Tidbits Throughout

3. Throughout the presentation the bad, non-
native, invasive plants are bordered by RED; the
Fireweed
Himalayan Balsam
Creeping (Canada) Thistle
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4. V. Weeds!
This section has information about many of the
non-native plants found around Pigeon Lake.
Included is:
•Some of our more invasive plants weeds.
•Comparisons of some of the easily confused
plants, including some native plants.
•Tips for dealing with the weeds.
Tip #1 - Practise EDRR!
EARLY DETECTION of non-native plant species
that are known to be invasive – followed by
RAPID RESPONSE in removing them before they
become established.
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5. Weeds! … so what?
• Native plants have lived in and adapted to the local climate and soils
for 1000s of years carving out ways to live as part of a whole
community of interconnected life. Each species has a role contributing
to, and being kept in check, by “the neighbours”.
• Weeds are alien plant species, brought from other countries.
• Weeds tend to flower earlier than natives and
often have a have a prolonged flowering season.
• Weeds are not adapted to our natural area.
They offset established balances, seldom give
to their “neighbours” and having no natural
Himalayan Balsam
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6. • Healthy zones rarely give weeds the
opportunity to get established.
• Weeds are mostly found in disturbed habitats
that have had their natural or native
vegetation removed.
• In disturbed areas the weeds move into the
bare ground and spread quickly, by seeds or
vegetative means such as rhizomes and
runners.
• If native vegetation is nearby a disturbance
Perennial
Sow-thistle 6

7. A botanist visited several beaches around the lake to find out
what the local weed problems are. The following weeds, start
with some of our most urgent to remove.
Crystal Springs Beach, Pigeon Lake, July 2009 7

8. Remember, NEVER compost invasive weeds with seeds. When in
doubt, bag, seal and put in garbage.
Crystal Springs Beach, Pigeon Lake, July 2009 7

9. In 2009, this relative new comer
aggressively took over great swaths
of shoreline to the extent that the
PLWA launched a campaign to
bring it under control. As of 2011
most Summer Villages are making
some effort to eradicate it. This
will take vigilance!
Disposal: Easily pulled.
Ideally, pull plants before the seed
pods develop.
Do not compose them!
Bag, seal and garbage.
Also see the AB Invasive Plants
Winter 2009 Newsletter.
www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Invader.htm
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10. In 2009, this relative new comer
aggressively took over great swaths
of shoreline to the extent that the
PLWA launched a campaign to
bring it under control. As of 2011
most Summer Villages are making
some effort to eradicate it. This
will take vigilance!
Disposal: Easily pulled.
Ideally, pull plants before the seed
pods develop.
Do not compose them!
Bag, seal and garbage.
Also see the AB Invasive Plants
Winter 2009 Newsletter.
www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Invader.htm
Himalayan Balsam 8

11. Our native Touch-me-not or Jewelweed, left, is of the same Patience genus as the
Himalayan Balsam! Both have explosive seeds. Being non-native there is nothing to
control the pink, beautiful yet aggressive weed. Go to the PLWA to find information on
the campaign to remove it from the Pigeon Lake area. 9

12. Canada Thistle also known as
Creeping Thistle
...
Extremely invasive. Spreads by underground stems (rhizomes) and fluffy seeds. Forms
extensive patches that crowd out native species .
Disposal: Repeated mowing through the growing season gradually depletes the food
energy stored in the root system. Repeated hand pulling in loose soils can also effectively
stress the root system. To succeed, several years of effort must be committed. More info:
www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-CanadaThistle.pdf
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13. Butter-and-Eggs
or Toadflax
A bad one because it can form extensive
patches.
Control:
Mowing and hand pulling before
flowering will prevent seed production, but
re-sprouting will occur. Repeated hand
pulling in loose soils, getting as much root
as possible, and repeated for a few years
can control/eradicate small infestations.
Don’t tolerate it just because it’s pretty!
More info: www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-
DalmatianToadflax.pdf
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14. Perennial .Sow-thistle
. .
A very common weed of wet places.
Although not extremely bad in the
Pigeon Lake area, it is present. All
infestations should be quickly removed.
Disposal: Seedlings can be easily hand-
pulled.
Mowing and cutting can prevent seed
production, but the plant’s long flowering
period necessitate many cuts.
More info: www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/
FS-PerennSowthistle.pdf
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15. Perennial Sow-thistle
A very common weed of wet places.
Although not extremely bad in the
Pigeon Lake area, it is present. All
infestations should be quickly removed.
Disposal: Seedlings can be easily hand-
pulled.
Mowing and cutting can prevent seed
production, but the plant’s long flowering
period necessitate many cuts.
More info: www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/
FS-PerennSowthistle.pdf
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16. Don’t confuse these plants! Some weeds, and even some natives and
weeds, are easily confused.
Common Tansy
Crystal Springs /Zeiner Campground – July 09
Biennial Sagewort 13
Grandview Beach - July 09 (an Artemisia species)

17. A closer look at the
Common Tansy
Disposal: Repeated mowing or hand cutting and encouraging
competition from native vegetation.
Repeated stem removal depletes the food energy stored in
roots. If fully established a herbicide may be necessary.
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18. A possibly confusing
pair of weeds.
Control: Hand-pulling or digging
before flowering is effective, but it is Control: Hand-pulling can prevent spread into new
important to remove as much of the areas and is effective on small infestations. Pulled
fibrous roots and rhizomes as plants should be bagged and sent to the landfill. Also
possible. Repeated efforts will be see: www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-
required – throughout the growing ScentlessChamomile.pdf
season and in subsequent years.
Also see: Scentless Chamomile (above)
www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-
OxeyeDaisy.pdf Much divided feathery leaves.
Look for the leafy shoots before the
Ox-eye Daisy (above) flowers appear.
Simple leaves
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Rosettes of leaves hug the ground before the flowers appear.

19. Common Stinging Nettle favours moist places, especially if rich in nitrogen, and is not to
be confused with Marsh Hedge-nettle, native and harmless. 16

20. Don’t confuse Purple Loosestrife, left (a weed that must be removed) with the much commoner native
Fireweed. It can be readily distinguished from Fireweed by its spike of more closely clustered flowers
which each have 4-7 narrow pink petals – Fireweed has larger flowers and only four large petals.
Also, the Purple Loosestrife leaves are opposite or in rings of three along the stem whereas the
Fireweed alternate. Fireweed is always found in more upland (drier) sites than Purple Loosestrife.
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21. Purple Loosestrife is a rare weed of
wetlands and stream or river edges in
the West. In eastern Canada it has
been known to completely overwhelm
wetlands.
Control: Pulling young plants by hand
is easy and can eradicate small
infestations. Shoots of mature plants
can be cut – if done late season there
will be reduced re-sprouting, however
there is the risk of spreading seed.
Efforts will need to be sustained over a
few years.
Be careful to bag, seal and dispose in
garage .
For more info see: www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/
Downloads/FS-PurpleLoosestrife.pdf
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22. Perennial
Sow-thistle
Common Groundsel Stinkweed Annual Hawk’s-beard
These annual weeds may thrive in moist sand and mud.
All annuals are easily pulled or easily mown before they have
gone to seed.
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23. Leafy Spurge is another bad rhizomatous weed that should be
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removed before it forms extensive patches.

24. White flowers in umbels
and feathery, carrot-like
leaves seen in fields
adjacent to Pigeon Lake.
It is a biennial, (forms a
rosette of leaves only the
first year then flowers and
fruits the second year).
Most people do not notice
smooth brome grass: it is
ubiquitous and extensive
forming patches that crowd
out native species.
More on next slide …
Caraway - An aggressive weed.
Found in fields adjacent to Pigeon Lake,
usually of upland grassy areas
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25. Wild caraway is very difficult to
detect when not in flower. Learn
to recognize the caraway rosettes
– early detection is important for
eradication.
Hand pulling pre-bloom can be
effective, especially in soft soils.
After flowering the plants are very
fragile and seeds are easily scattered
– at this stage a plastic bag can be
carefully placed over the mature
plant, and closed tightly around the
stem.
Collected seed should be disposed
of in landfill-bound garbage. Several
years of pulling may be required to
deplete the seed bank.
Caraway - Also see: www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/
Downloads/FS-WildCaraway.pdf
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26. Hawkweed is also a very invasive perennial in
grasslands and has been found around Pigeon
Lake. The yellow (Meadow Hawkweed) may
also be present. Please help control both.
Control: Mowing will prevent seed
production but strongly encourages vegetative
reproduction. Hand-pulling or digging
before flowering can be very effective on
small infestations. Remember to remove as
much root as possible and repeat efforts in
subsequent years.
This plant was found at Zeiner
Park.
Also see: www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/
Downloads/FS-OrangeHawkweed.pdf
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27. Resources & References
• Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Canada – Weed Survey On-line map -
www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app68/listings/weeds/weeds_map.jsp
• Alberta Invasive Plant Council - www.invasiveplants.ab.ca
• Alberta Native Plants Council - www.anpc.ab.ca/content/index.php
• Alberta Sustainable Resource Development - www.srd.alberta.ca/
• Alberta Weed Control Act - www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/acts6156
• Association of Alberta Agricultural Fieldmen - www.aaaf.ab.ca
• Canadian Biodiversity Web Site - The Redpath Museum of McGill University - http://
canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/index.htm
• Invasive Alien Species in Canada Hinterland Who's Who - www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=220
• Invasive Plants of Canada (IPCAN) - National Botanical Services - www.rbg.ca/cbcn/en/
projects/invasives/index.htm
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28. Acknowledgements
• Patsy Cotterill – Botanist, Edmonton Nature Club
Patsy has taken a great interest in the plants around Pigeon Lake and has visited
numerous times, documenting the plant life. She has sometimes investigated
weed reports. Patsy has generously given PLWA the use of her native plants
and weed pictures along with a presentation on the plants – the basis of this
modified version.
• Alberta Invasive Plant Council for information and some pictures. They have a
wealth of information on each weed. See their site for more information.
www.invasiveplants.ab.ca
• Susan Ellis – A PLWA Member & Volunteer, whose family has enjoyed pigeon
lake for over 40 years. Susan modified Patsy’s presentation with permission for
PLWA use.
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