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Finally it is summer in Fairbanks, with warm weather and lush green growth all around us.

Wildflowers are showing off their bright yellows, purples, pinks and blues.

Arnica, fireweed, bluebells, wild sweet pea and others adorn the roadsides.

All is well. Or is it?

Among these wonderful native wildflowers are “imitators”; plants that lead us to believe that because they have beautiful flowers and lush green growth, they are harmless and wonderful also.

These are what are referred to as exotic plants. They have been introduced into Alaska for many different reasons: as forage crops, food sources, garden plants and by “hitch-hiking” on the wheels of vehicles or with animals.

It does not matter how they arrive, but how we can stop them from spreading any farther in our state.

Education is one of the best ways to control the spread of invasive plants. The more that is known, the more able we are to deal with the problem. So to begin, here are a few terms that are helpful when talking about plants: native species, exotic species, weeds, invasive species and noxious species.

• A native species occurs in an area without human assistance.

• An exotic species is introduced by humans to locations outside its native range.

• A weed is an undesirable plant, native or exotic, that can typically thrive on disturbed soils.

• An invasive species invades natural areas and can cause harm to the economy, environment, public health or all of the above.

• A noxious species has been outlawed by a state because of its dangerous potential.

Invasive weeds have an impact on agriculture, biodiversity, the environment and our economy.

Weeds reduce crop and pasture productivity as well as being second only to habitat destruction as a threat to biodiversity.

Some environmental impacts include water quality, fire frequency, wildlife and fish habitat and toxicity to humans, animals and native plants.

Billions of dollars are spent every year in the United States to control these weeds.

Alaska has an opportunity to prevent the spread of invasive weeds because the plants have not gotten a good foothold here yet.

We still have large intact native ecosystems, and by following some guidelines we can protect our state from the spread of invasive weeds.

Bird vetch, White Sweet Clover, Perennial Sowthistle, Foxtail Barley, Hemp-Nettle and Yellow Toadflax are of main concern in the Fairbanks area. The first three plants listed are in the greatest numbers and are the most serious threats.

Here are a number of ways to help:

Don’t plant a problem. The UAF Cooperative Extension Service has a list of plants that should not be planted in Alaska. Please contact us.

Don’t use fill dirt from weedy sites and clean equipment before tilling or moving soil into your yard.

Brush soil and seeds off clothing and animals.

Purchase certified weed-free hay and straw, and watch nursery stock for weeds.

Don’t dig up plants from roadsides and take them home. Join local groups that are involved with invasive species programs.

Volunteer to pull weeds.

If you want to learn more about invasive plants; please join the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, U.S. Forest Service and Fairbanks Soil & Water Conservation District for “Weeds Gone Wild, An Invasive Plant Workshop and Guided Tour” on Aug. 16, at the Old University Park School, room 108.

The workshop will be from 10 a.m. to noon, with lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Then we will all board a bus for the tour which will end at 3 p.m. If you attend both the workshop and the field trip, lunch will be free.

Please call Diane Claassen at 474-2428 for more information.

Diane Claassen is an IPM Technician for the Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, a part of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information contact Claassen at 474-2428 or fndmc2@uaf.edu.