Week of January 10, 2011

A new invasive reported for the Catskill Mountains

Five-leaf aralia (Eleutherococcus sieboldianus) is an ornamental that has invasive tendencies and is very threatening to natural communities. Please report any occurrences you find in the Catskill Mountain region to Meredith Taylor at the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. Photo documentation is always appreciated!

Meredith Taylor
Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership Coordinator
The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development

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Les Mehrhoff passes away

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, 60, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 at his home in Willington, Connecticut. Born March 16th, 1950 in Morris Plains, New Jersey to Leslie and Jessie Mehrhoff, he leaves behind his beloved wife, Olga; daughter, Jessie; and field-dog, Moxie. Les received his B.S. from New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. He went on to receive his M.S. and PhD. from the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Before retiring in July of 2009, Les worked for the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UConn as the curator of the George Safford Torrey Herbarium.

A naturalist, he sought involvement in organizations including, but not limited to, the Connecticut Botanical Society, New England Wildflower Society, and the Torrey Botanical Club. He also participated in various committees such as the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, CT chapter of The Nature Conservancy, The CT Invasive Plant Working Group, and served as one of the project managers of the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE).

Les was also a champion in the defense of all living things, from releasing insects found indoors to the safety of their natural habitat, to eradicating invasive species through his teachings and field work. As an avid fan of the UConn Men’s Soccer team, Les could be found proudly cheering from the stands.

Les’ legacy will be carried on by the many people he inspired and befriended. A celebration of Les’ life will be held in Storrs, CT at a later date. In memory of Les, please perform an act of kindness for the preservation of our environment.

Please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com for online memorial guestbook.

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