Avon Youth Organization To Host Forum On Invasive Vine This Weekend

AVON, CT — Eventually, the snow will melt, and trees, bushes, shrubs, and even weeds will grow again.

And when the growing starts up in the spring, one Avon organization is hoping folks are prepared to battle an invasive scourge that can choke native forest life.

The Avon Clean Energy Commission Youth Advisory Council is inviting residents to learn about an invasive plant threatening local landscapes during a family-friendly event at the Avon Free Public Library.

“Stop the Strangle: Oriental Bittersweet Bingo” is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the library’s Community Room, 281 Country Club Road.

Organizers said the program will focus on identifying and addressing Oriental bittersweet, a fast-spreading invasive vine known for damaging trees and shrubs.

The event will begin with a slideshow explaining what the plant looks like, why it poses a problem, and how the community plans to respond.

Participants will then play invasive plant and pollinator-themed bingo for educational prizes.

All ages are welcome, though children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Oriental bittersweet, or Celastrus orbiculatus, is a deciduous woody vine native to East Asia.

It grows over trees and shrubs, blocking light and girdling trunks with tightly coiled stems, which can weaken or kill host plants.

The vine is recognizable in autumn by its yellow, glossy leaves and red berries that grow along the stem, distinguishing it from the native species.

Residents can register in advance to join the Avon Clean Energy Commission Youth Advisory Council and attend the event.

For information on the Avon Clean Energy Commission Youth Advisory Council, click on this link.