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Re: responsible use of plants and animals in ponds

Ahh, a favorite subject to create lots of disruption in the garden and on ANY list: Natives and non.
Personally, I would rather discuss plants as aggressive and non-aggressive, rather than native and non-native. A peony from China does beautifully in Indiana. The native aster, on the other hand, is dangerous in a planted garden (as opposed to nature's garden). I'm still fighting if in my asparagus patch where it has taken hold. The peonies, on the other hand, behave quietly.
Virginia Creeper is another example of an aggressive native in my area. I think native plant proponents do a mis-service to their readers to not discuss plants from this point of view instead of JUST native/non.
On the other hand, we all know the dangers of plants like Lythrum. But, again, it is its aggressiveness, not it's non-nativeness, that has made it such a disastrous plant.
Lynn
Gardening WITH Nature

At 10:14 PM 3/15/2003, you wrote:
Very well put, Lon (therefore I am including the entire post for
those who may not have read it). The points you make are points that
seem to get lost in the 'native only' debate.  Our "natives" (plants
and animals) often require very specific conditions to survive. Once
humans change those conditions, the natives can't survive and the
exotics, who can survive, move in.  What needs to happen is less
human disturbance of the various ecosystems; then what is native
might have a chance.  Banning non-native animals and plants will not
solve the problems we have created.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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