Author Archives: sigrungadwa

About sigrungadwa

Consulting Ecologist and Registered Soil Scientist. My firm, Carya Ecological Services, LLC conducts inventories of vegetation, wetlands, and habitat; wetland delineations; and ecological assessments - for open space grants, application reviews, and applications for open space/cluster developments. We work either as the lead firm or as a subconsultant. I have a Masters Degree from UCONN-Storrs, Dept of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (1997) & a Bachelors from Brown U. in Biology.

Coastal Forest – a CT DEEP Critical Habitat

FULL SET: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=sigrun.gadwa.56&set=a.610140136753118 Photos show a low-lying coastal forest in Old Lyme, Connecticut, on a forested ~fifteen-acre “peninsula” bordered by brackish marsh. It is just east of the Connecticut River and north of the Amtrak RR line. Upland forest is … Continue reading

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Tri-Town Preserve in Gabbro Country

Avalonia Land Conservancy is the proud steward of the 527-acre TriTown Forest Preserve in southeastern Connecticut.  Well buffered by extensive additional protected open space, including Natchaug State Forest,  this preserve not only has a wide range of pristine wetland classes. … Continue reading

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ALERT: MOW DOWN MUGWORT BEFORE SEEDS RIPEN

ALERT: MOW DOWN MUGWORT BEFORE FROST, WHEN ITS SEEDS START TO FLY Connecticut plant scientists and volunteers who work on invasive issues are gravely concerned that mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is spreading rapidly throughout our road network. Minute seeds are blown … Continue reading

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Emerald Ash Borer Control in Connecticut

Published in April 2017 by The Connecticut Botanical Society P.O. Box 9004, New Haven, CT 06532   ~Established 1903 ~ The following  article was reviewed by Dr.  Claire Rutledge, in charge of Emerald Ash Borer Research at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment … Continue reading

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Where are the Starry Campions?

  Starry Campion  (Silene stellata)   source:  www. ct- Botanical- Society.org    In the 1960’s  on the north shore of Long Island, I recall seeing this exquisite native campion along hayfield edges, partly shaded by oak woods.  It grew both … Continue reading

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Lesser Celandine – a Temptress

When lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) came up in a shady moist part of my yard, I admit, I did not promptly rip it out, though I do know it is a confirmed Invasive Plant Species, on the official Connecticut List.  … Continue reading

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Mugwort’s Milestones

Mugwort or wild chrysanthemum (Artemisia vulgaris) has reached two unfortunate milestones: it has been added to the official, confirmed invasive species list of Connecticut, and it has started producing fertile seeds! It used to spread only by rhizomes, via stray … Continue reading

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Critical Habitats in Connecticut

Introduction I am often asked, just what is a critical habitat, and is it protected or not?   My answer is drawn from  a hybrid  DEEP document  (map plus explanations and keys)  called “Critical Habitats” last revised in 2011.  Recently retired … Continue reading

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Rich and Poor in the Plant World – Part 1

My much-loved,  old, heavy botanical manuals (e.g. Fernald and Britton and Brown)  always include a sentence or two about the habitat where a plant is found, as well as exceedingly detailed morphological descriptions.  “Found in rich soil” is a frequent … Continue reading

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Transplanting Soil Blocks, a Biodiversity Rescue Tool

This past Spring (May and June 2012) a group in south central Connecticut transplanted many blocks of peat soil, about 20″ X 20″, with very rare Adder’s Tongue Fern (Ophioglossum pusillum).  This is  an attempt to salvage the population from … Continue reading

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