Re: How to tell the invasive plant story?

**Wayne Mezitt waynem@WestonNurseries.com>**

The "invasives issue" is very complex. For those of us in the nursery
industry, the concern for invasive plants has mushroomed in importance far
more quickly than we initially anticipated. Nursery industry leaders
generally agree that our industry and its members need to take proactive
action on invasive plants before inappropriate regulatory/legislative
constraints are forced upon us. We also believe it is the right thing to do,
given our industry's long-term culture, and the trust the public places on
us. Should the nursery/landscape industry choose to ignore or ineffectively
address the issue of invasive plants, particularly those we market which
turn out to be invasive, the livelihood of many nurseries, landscapers, and
garden centers may well be threatened.

As our own business has become increasingly concerned with invasives, we
have taken incremental steps to keep our clients informed about the issue.
Starting more than 5 years ago we removed from our catalog listings for some
of the most offensive thugs like Rosa multiflora, Celastrus orbiculatus and
Eleagnus umbellata. Additionally, we continue to be actively involved with
legislators, regulators and public interest groups who are concerned about
invasives.  Many other nursery businesses across the country are taking
similar actions. You can view an article we published in our 2002 catalog
at: http://www.westonnurseries.com/New_Site_Pages/Articles_INVASIVE.htm.

More than 2000 nurseries/garden centers/landscapers nationwide are members
of the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA). ANLA and its
member firms have been addressing invasive plant problems since they first
emerged as a concern ten years ago. One of our successes has been to clearly
differentiate "invasive plant" issues from the related, but separate "native
plant" issues. Dealing independently with the two issues reduces many of the
confrontational agendas that seem to develop in the "natives vs. exotics"
debates. ANLA is also working with state and local groups and organizations
throughout the country to address regionally-specific concerns.

Last December several dozen people who represent groups impacted by invasive
plants convened at the Missouri Botanical Garden to discuss the issues and
agree upon codes of conduct for each of their constituent members. Many
significant decision-makers actively participated in this meeting, and some
important steps were accomplished. Complete information about this meeting
is available at http://www.mobot.org/iss/.

The issues surrounding invasive plants seem to be some of the most
compelling horticultural concerns in many areas of the USA, and certainly
deserve greater attention in the gardening press than they have received to
date. It seems very apparent to me that issues like this which affect so
many segments of the environment and economy, public and private, need to be
more widely discussed. Informed and open communications help assure that
everyone who's interested can understand the issues. Education and
information also facilitate making well-considered choices as decisions
become necessary. Many invasive plant decisions continue to be made based
upon incomplete or inaccurate information, and the effect is damaging to
everyone. 

One of the major concerns must be that the writer sufficiently understands
the issue so only appropriate information is passed along, and the users of
the information can rely upon its validity. Composing an interesting story
also calls upon the skills of the author. Invasive plants promise to be
ongoing concerns in nearly every part of this country, and throughout most
of the world. Properly prepared to write about invasives, garden writers can
perform a major service by helping provide information and resources, in
interesting formats, that result in a better understanding for all those
affected.

Wayne Mezitt
Weston Nurseries
Hopkinton, MA
508-293-8046

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gene Bush" <genebush@otherside.com>
To: <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 5:37 PM
Subject: Re: [GWL] How to tell the invasive plant story?

> Hello Larry,
>     The message is getting out... just a matter of where you look. I have
> seen the subject appear in the Courier Journal in Louisville, KY on more
> than one occasion over the past year. Know I have seen articles of various
> lengths and depths in national garden magazines. One thing for sure,
attend
> a native plant society annual meeting or symposium and you will find the
> subject of invasives/exotics a hot and lengthily subject. The subject is
out
> there and the topic is being discussed on many levels. From government
> agencies to the back yard gardener.
>     Having said that, you have been writing long enough to know that if
you
> wrote the greatest article every published on the subject, and it was
> mandatory reading for every citizen, the message would still need to be
> repeated. While the subject is of interest to those of us who write, who
own
> nurseries, who garden, etc. there is a whole 'nother' world out there that
> has no interest whatsoever... and probably never will.
>     Effective? You and others have been effective.. five years ago few
were
> aware in general. Ask a gardener today about invasives and he will know
what
> you are talking about in most cases.
>     If you have something to say, it well. There will be those who will
> respond.
> Gene E. Bush
> Munchkin Nursery & Gardens, llc
> www.munchkinnursery.com
> genebush@munchkinnursery.com
> Zone 6/5  Southern Indiana
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> > My question to the group is have you found a way to EFFECTIVELY get this
> > message out? Has the topic been avoided by your editors? What works and
> what
> > doesn't? For the sake of planet earth and the air and water we require,
> what
> > can garden writers really do?
> >
> > Thanks for your input,
> > Larry Maupin
>
>
>
>
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