Re: Native Plant Rescue

**j* e* m* s* <h*@sbcglobal.net>**

What I think is interesting about this whole sustainability issue is 
that it's the public that is pushing this on political, government 
and business leaders. The public is way ahead of government on this 
issue. For instance, at the National League of Cities conference one 
year ago, sustainability was not on the agenda. At the end of the 
meeting, it was number one.

jems

>Get whom to consider it? I have sat through hundreds of hours of
>developer applications. The developers want the cheapest thing they can
>get away with and in most cases, only have to guarantee that plants live
>one year. Many engineers (on planning and zoning boards) object to
>pervious surfaces because they present problems for snowplowing (oh my,
>one might actually have to lift the blade!). Other objections are that
>they allow the very materials (petroleum, salt) that you're trying to
>protect against to percolate down through the gravel, grates (or
>whatever).
>
>The education curve is so steep that, if I stopped to look at it, I would
>throw up my hands in despair. What I wouldn't give to have an applicant
>come in with a LEED proposal, a green roof, an energy-efficient anything,
>plants that would last more than a week, etc. It is tough out here in the
>trenches of government service.
>
>I'm sure there are areas of the country with more foresight, but New
>Jersey is not one of them. I guess I have job security (volunteer) for
>life.
>
>I keep hoping that the gardening and lifestyle mags will catch on to what
>a huge topic this is and what homeowners can insist that their towns do
>to retain/improve the quality of life in this regard. Gardeners (and
>garden writers) can have a huge influence in how they want to see things
>landscaped, where they want the emphasis to be, etc.
>
>I am excited that this thread has continued so long and that so many of
>us are interested in issues of sustainability, preservation, restoration,
>and green building. See my blog entry
>http://loisdevries.blogspot.com/search/label/Lawn%2FGrass for more on the
>impermeability of turf grass.
>
>Regards,
>Lois J. de Vries
>Visit http://loisdevries.blogspot.com
>
>On Mon, 7 Jan 2008 18:38:29 -0500 jo ellen meyers sharp
><hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net> writes:
>>  Maybe we could get them to consider pervious/porous hard surfaces???
>>
>>  jems
>>
>>
>>  >Susan has a good point on sustainable vs natives-only.
>>  >
>>  >I often wonder, if the choice is concrete/blacktop or a non-native 
>>  garden,
>>  >what they'd choose? Sure there are plenty of great hardy native 
>>  plants, but
>>  >lets face it - in many situations, such as along a busy strip-mall
>>
>>  >parking lot,
>>  >they are just not going to thrive and survive the abuse and 
>>  neglect. I'd
>>  >rather see anything green than more gravel or rubber  mulch.
>>  >
>>  >Sincerely,
>>  >Kathy Jentz
>>  >Editor/Publisher
>>  >Washington  Gardener Magazine
>>  >826 Philadelphia Ave.
>>  >Silver Spring MD  20910
>>  >301-588-6894
>>  >editor@washingtongardener.com
>>  >_www.WashingtonGardener.com_ (http://www.washingtongardener.com/)
>>  >
>>  >Our  mission: to help your Washington, DC, area garden grow
>>  better!
>>  >Subscribe  today for $20 a year by sending a check to the address
>>  above.
>>  >The magazine  makes a great gift for gardening friends!
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >In a message dated 1/6/2008 9:43:12 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>>  >harristakoma@erols.com writes:
>>  >
>>  >I also
>>  >question the notion that that I'm doing *harm* by growing, say,
>>  >super-sustainable and loved-by-wildlife sedums in my  garden.
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >**************Start the year off right.  Easy ways to stay in
>>  shape.   
>>  >http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  ________________________________________
>>  Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
>>  Garden writer, speaker, author, photographer
>>  Region III Director Garden Writers Association
>>  Phone: (317) 251.3261
>>  Fax: (317) 251.8545
>>  E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net
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>
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________________________________________
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Garden writer, speaker, author, photographer
Region III Director Garden Writers Association
Phone: (317) 251.3261
Fax: (317) 251.8545
E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net
_______________________________________________
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Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
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Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
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