Alien Invaders of the Bow Valley

Each Spring, they invade.

Oxeye daisy. Photo: biosphereinstitute.org

Creeping out of the shadows of the pine, spruce and fir, they push their way up from the ground and hide themselves amongst innocent bystanders – the wolf willow, Indian paintbrush, shooting star, prairie crocus and wild rose.  They blend in so well that, at first glance, nothing seems strange.

Closer inspection reveals that hiding among the native flowers and shrubs are invaders, brought to the mountains by well-intentioned gardeners, on shoes, car tires, and by the wind.  These aliens force out the natives and disrupt the peace. They disguise themselves with names like Oxeye Daisy, Dalmatian Toadflax, Creeping Bellflower, Canadian Thistle, and Spotted Knapweed.

Why So Bad?

Noxious (not nauseous!) weeds and invasive ornamental plants are alien species that threaten the ecological balance of the settled areas of the Bow Valley. Each year, Bow Valley residents are urged to rid their gardens and yards of these invasive species. Failure to do so can actually result in fines from By-law! Residents are also encouraged to keep the Valley au naturel by planting and cultivating *native species.

They (Don’t) Come in Peace

We rarely stop to think about how these plants became an invasive part of the ecology or why we label them as “bad” plants in relation to “good,” native species.

The story of how the invasive species arrived in the Bow Valley is the same as in the rest of Western Canada.  Early settlers didn’t know that alien species had tagged along with the rest of the possessions they brought to their new home in the Rockies. New residents brought other plants, such as wild flower seed mixes from Asia and South America, and poured them over their gardens. The name of the mixes, “wild flowers,” made them seem natural and fitting for a setting as wild as the Rockies, but these plants like to self-seed and quickly took over precious ground space.

Alien plant species are invasive in every sense of the word and we should be vigilant in removing them from our yards, gardens, and public areas to prevent further damage to the Rocky Mountain ecosystems.  Every year, the Province of Alberta, Town of Canmore, National Parks Service and the Bow Valley Biosphere Institute put out lists of the most harmful invasive plant species for easy identification and removal.  They also supply lists of native plants to consider for your gardens instead of the invasive species (see “Resources” below).

Rhubarb: Not Gonna Poison Your Pie

There is one plant species that quietly survives along the banks of the Bow River: rhubarb. It too is an alien species, but it comes in peace and is an important part of Canmore’s history.

Rhubarb is native to Asia, but it was brought to Europe by traders and quickly became part of the diet of peasants because it was hearty and easy to cultivate.  By the late 1700′s, British botanists were sending seeds to North America to experiment with its adaptability to other climates.  Just like in Europe, rhubarb gained a foothold in the vegetable gardens of North Americans, moving West as settlement did.  It was a perfect food.  It could be stewed, baked, preserved, and was useful in numerous home-remedies.

There is feral rhubarb scattered throughout the Bow Valley that was planted in gardens by miners and their families. It is dependent on human cultivation to thrive and spread.  This characteristic – staying where it was first planted – makes this simple plant a signifier of where the working class founders of Canmore once lived. Take a wander around what is left of Bankhead or Georgetown and you will find rhubarb there, too.

The next time you are taking a walk along the Bow River – after ridding your garden of oxeye daisies and other noxious weeds – keep an eye out for the rhubarb. This plant tells the story of a bygone era in Canmore’s history.

Resources

Alberta Invasive Plant Identification Guide

Recommended Plant Species for Landscaping in Banff National Park

Town of Canmore: Noxious Weeds

*Native species include Wolf Willow, Alpine Current, Wild Rose, Purple Sticky Geranium, Western Wood Lilly, Indian Paintbrush, Shooting Star, and Gaillardia-Brown Eyed Susan.

Lauren Wheeler

Lauren Wheeler is an environmental/public historian working on a PhD at the University of Alberta. Her masters was about winter recreation and photography in 1920's Banff and her current dissertation work is on environmentalism in Western Canadian universities. Lauren grew-up in Canmore, and escapes back to the Rockies as often as possible to work on side projects about the environmental history of the Bow Valley.

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