Bradford pear trees and other invasive trees and plants

<p dir="ltr">When you want advice about the problems that invasive trees and plants can cause in Indiana, whom do you consult?</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src= "http://hoosierhistorylive.org/images/Jo-Ellen-Meyers-Sharp-2019.PNG" alt="Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp" width="199" height="289" align= "right" />For <strong>Hoosier History Live</strong>, the obvious choice is the <strong><a href= "https://hoosiergardener.com/">Hoosier Gardener</a></strong>, aka <strong>Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp</strong>, the award-winning, <strong>Indianapolis</strong>-based journalist and president of <strong><a href= "https://gardencomm.org/">GardenComm: Garden Communicators International</a></strong>. An Indiana advanced master gardener, Jo Ellen will be Nelson's guest to share advice about Bradford pear trees and other non-native, invasive trees and plants that are damaging the state's environment. She also will offer advice about alternatives to planting "invasives," which have been displacing native species.</p> <p dir="ltr">Among the culprits are Bradford pear trees - which began blooming in mid-April, with distinctive white blossoms - and other ornamental pear trees. Jo Ellen also has written <strong><a href= "https://hoosiergardener.com/popular-groundcover-creeps-onto-states-new-do-not-sell-list/">a blog post </a></strong>that warns about the problems caused by a popular groundcover in many Hoosier landscapes known as the "winter creeper.<strong>"</strong> She explains that invasive species often have a "growth habit that out-paces and disrupts native species."</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong><a href= "https://www.indystar.com/story/news/environment/2021/04/06/council-considers-banning-invasive-bradford-pear-tree-indiana/6988023002/"> A front-page article in the <em>Indianapolis Star</em></a></strong> last month describes Bradford pears as nearly ubiquitous in the state now, with their early blooming "giving them an advantage over native species and allowing them to take their resources... Invasive plants are wreaking havoc on Indiana's ecosystems."</