MU Extension in Boone County

Support the mental well-being of youth in your community.

Attend the Youth Mental Health First Aid virtual training on June 30. This course is designed to help adults recognize and respond to signs of mental health challenges in young people.

You'll learn how to:
• Assess for risk of su***de or harm
• Listen without judgment
• Give reassurance and information
• Encourage professional help• Encourage self-help and other support strategies

This training is ideal for parents, educators, coaches, youth program staff and anyone who works with or cares about young people.

Register and learn more: https://brnw.ch/21x3ufg

Butterfly House Tours

Join the Heart of Missouri Master Gardeners for an evening at Jefferson Farm and Garden.

Stop by Tuesday, June 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. at 4800 E. New Haven Road in Columbia for guided tours of the butterfly house, the All-America Selections garden and the demonstration garden. Explore what’s in bloom, gather ideas for your own landscape and connect with local gardening experts.

All are welcome to attend.

Those tall plants with delicate white flowers popping up along roadsides and field edges may look harmless. They are not. Poison hemlock is a toxic plants in Missouri and every part of it is poisonous, whether green or dried. This plant spreads aggressively, with a single plant producing up to 38,000 seeds.

How to identify poison hemlock:
• Height: Can reach 6 feet or taller
• Stems: Smooth, hollow, hairless with distinctive purple blotches or streaks
• Leaves: Fern-like, finely divided, with a strong unpleasant odor when crushed
• Flowers: Small white flowers in umbrella-shaped clusters
• Growth cycle: Low rosette the first year, tall flowering plant the second year
• Poison hemlock is often confused with Queen Anne’s lace, but that plant is shorter, hairy and not toxic

How to get rid of it safely:
• Hand removal: Only for small infestations and with full protective clothing
• Mowing or tillage: Can help reduce spread
• Herbicides: Most effective in the early rosette stage before flowering

Safety tips:
• Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when handling
• Avoid inhaling plant material during removal
• Never burn poison hemlock — inhalation can be dangerous
• If unsure, do not touch the plant

Get more info: https://brnw.ch/21x3mtX

Consult the W**d ID Guide for additonal photo of Poison Hemlock and Queen Anne's Lace: https://brnw.ch/21x3mtW

EDIT: Unfortunately the Butterfly Festival has been closed down for the remainder of the day due to incoming storms. Some of us will be at the Water Festival at Rock Bridge Memorial state park on June 27th, hope to see you there!

Recent black bear sightings in Columbia, including a late-night appearance in a gym parking lot, are a reminder that Missouri’s black bear population is growing.
Missouri’s black bear population has climbed to around 1,000 animals and continues to expand beyond its core range in the Ozarks.

Black bears are generally considered less aggressive than grizzlies or brown bear species and are more likely to avoid people. But they are still large, powerful wild animals, and they can be dangerous if they feel threatened or become accustomed to human food.

If you see a bear:
• Keep your distance. Never approach and stay at least 100 yards away
• Do not run. Back away slowly and stay calm
• Make yourself known. Speak calmly and make noise so the bear can identify you
• Never feed a bear. Access to human food can make bears lose their natural fear of people
• Secure attractants like trash, pet food and bird seed

Most bear encounters can be avoided with simple precautions, and bears are rarely aggressive when given space.

Get more information: https://brnw.ch/21x3jkU