Noxious Weed of the Month: elongated mustard

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By Ethan Proud | PREVIEW Columnist

You won’t find elongated mustard in the grocery store, but you will find it on the Colorado Noxious Weed A List. In Colorado, it is only found at the border of Chaffee and Fremont counties, but it can also be found in Utah, Idaho and Nevada.

Its leaves help differentiate it from other mustards and are lobed at the base, and the leaves along the stem do not clasp it. Like all mustards, it has four petals, which are yellow, and the plant has a sweet fragrance when in bloom. Elongated mustard is native to Southeastern Europe and Asia, and in North America it invades semi-arid landscapes and is commonly found on steep slopes, which make treatment difficult. Helicopters have been used to treat this plant due to the areas it is found.

Many of our native and non-noxious mustard species are look-alikes for the plant, as many have yellow petals. If you believe you have found this plant, please bring a sample to the Archuleta County Weed and Pest Office.

Archuleta County Weed and Pest is your local resource for managing noxious weed populations and controlling other pests.

 Upcoming events 

May 19 — Archuleta County Fair Board Dance, 7 to 10 p.m. at the Extension Exhibit Hall.

May 20 — Plant workshop: Sowing and transplanting early crops. The workshop will run from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Colorado State University (CSU) Extension office. There is a $10 class fee. Visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf76WXumeKE9ND1JSus9Qdpx5OM6Q14Bwrx2tjdQR-mIv95ZQ/viewform to register. 

May 20 and June 1 — Cottage Foods certification online.

The Archuleta County Fair is the first full weekend in August, Aug. 3 to Aug. 6. Go to www.Archuletacountyfair.com for more info. Volunteers are wanted.

Save the date for the viticulture workshop to be hosted at Fox Fire Farms on July 15. 

For more on these and other events, please check out our Facebook page at Archuleta County Extension or call the office at (970) 264-5931.

CPR and first aid classes

CPR and first aid certification classes are offered every other month by the CSU Extension office, generally on the second Monday and Wednesday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid and $55 for CPR, first aid or recertification. Call the Extension office at (970) 264-5931 to register.