Welcome to the final day of July, and happy Shark Week to all who celebrate.
Here’s what we’re doing outside today:
Spotted: A familiar red, black, and polka-dot insect is making its presence known around Philly.
Mushroom wars: Pennsylvania growers are divided over cheap, grocery-store fungi.
Inside look: A couple built a wildlife habitat in their yard.
☀️ Your weekend weather outlook: Overall splendid conditions, with a mix of sun and clouds. Some Sunday showers may dampen things.
— Paola Pérez (outdoorsy@inquirer.com)
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
Hello, strangely beautiful invader
Every year, people ask: “Should we still care about the spotted lanternfly?”
It’s been nearly a decade since it showed up in Pennsylvania and threatened the balance of the ecosystem. Back then, things got so spooky that people started calling 911 (and were respectfully asked to stop doing so).
Thankfully, their wrath was not as bad as we feared. Lanternfly numbers have declined, but efforts to control them continue. They still pose threats to vulnerable plants, especially grapevines.
Active from July through December, adult lanternflies remain a pest to be dealt with. Recent seasons have been more or less mild, but lately I’ve noticed more and more of the inch-long plant-hoppers crawling around Philly. I even caught a crafty one hitching a ride on the hood of my car.
We’re told to kill them on sight, but... I truly hate having to stomp on them, and it’s not just because they are experts at effortlessly escaping certain death. There’s something special about them. Heck, they even make for extraordinary tattoo subjects. They can’t help that they wreak chaos.
At any rate, it’s important to know how to identify, prevent, and treat spotted lanternfly damage. Use our guide here.
📬 What are you witnessing out there? Email me to let me know if your neighborhood has seen a rise or decline in spotted lanternfly sightings.
News worth knowing
Storm warnings have been outdoing the actual storms in the Philly area. The Inquirer’s resident weather expert Tony Wood explains why thunderstorm forecasting remains one of the most elusive pursuits in meteorology.
In a reversal, New Jersey now says Pennsylvania residents should register their e-bikes while they’re visiting the Garden State.
A La Salle rower built an app that’s changing the way athletes train — and the future of rowing.
Officials are asking South Jersey residents to avoid wild animals after a report of a rabid raccoon who bit a man last weekend.
🌳 Your outdoorsy experience
What are you doing out there? This is your spot to shine, dear reader. I’m looking for new stories and moments to feature. Send your story in an email (pictures, if you have them, are welcome). You may see it in an upcoming edition of this newsletter.
🎤 Let me pass the mic to business reporter Joseph DiStefano.
Pennsylvania mushroom growers welcomed this month’s U.S. Department of Commerce preliminary finding that Canadian farms are selling mushrooms to U.S. grocery stores at unfairly low prices.
The ruling against “dumping” threatens to make mushrooms more expensive to import, easing competitive pressure on family-owned U.S. growers in an industry also under pressure from a shortage of harvesters amid the U.S. immigration crackdown.
“This ruling supports the long-term health of our industry” in Pennsylvania, said CJ Ciarrochi, CEO and fourth-generation owner of Modern Mushroom Farms in Toughkenamon, Chester County, part of the Fresh Mushrooms Fair Trade Coalition supporting the case against the Canadians.
But one of the largest area growers called the decision a protectionist move that would enable aging U.S. farms to avoid upgrades and leave consumers with fewer choices. — Joseph DiStefano
Read on for the full fungi fight report.
Larry Cohen and Marla Hexter foster an eye-catching meadow at their Schwenksville home, and live by the motto: “Think globally act locally.” See their flourishing gardens and the critters that thrive there.
Paola’s picks
🍑 An activity: Peach Festival at Peddler’s Village in Bucks (free; all ages).
🚙 A story: Obeying posted speed limits saves you money, and helps the planet.
🦟 A reminder: Prevent mosquito breeding — and bites — with these tips.
🐦 A win: The formerly extirpated piping plover bounces back.
🌇 A song: “Summer In The City” by Quincy Jones (1973).
A riverside view
I captured this along the Moonwalk Riverfront Park in New Orleans last weekend.
👋🏽 A hike is calling my name. Where should I go? I’ll catch up with you soon.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
