Re: Impatiens Downy Mildew

**J* E* M* S* <h*@sbcglobal.net>**

I agree we must give gardeners some good alternatives to impatiens...especially for really shady area. But I'm sure you know, C.L., that convincing people that coleus, begonias, torenias, nieremberia (which you can hardly find anymore), caladiums are a great substitute can be difficult. Recent improvements in the waxleaf and hybrid begonis help, but it will take the public a while to get used to the new look of the shade garden without impatiens.

jems

On Feb 1, 2013, at 11:45 AM, C.L. Fornari wrote:

I think that the main mission for people like myself is to get people to see the Impatiens Plague as an opportunity. They were such an easy plant for people to fall back on without thinking, so now they might be helped out of their rut. The worst thing that could happen is for the public to feel discouraged and just stop planting. That's why we all need to jump in and talk about the variety of alternatives, annual and perennial, and isn't it a great thing that we get to try something new.

C.L.

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