Decline in Gardening

**E*@aol.com**

>From time to time I, too, feel as Jeff does about the lack of interest that 
Boomers have in gardening.  I also become dispirited by the sorry state of 
suburban landscaping, proliferation of McMansion construction, condemnation of 
certain plants, grasses and turfs, dwindling amount of open space and lack of 
sustainable, livable development.

However, I am an optimist.  I believe what we write about and talk about is 
of interest to a wide segment of the general public, and especially to their 
school-age children.  There are more schoolyard gardens and nature habitats than 
at any other time in our history.  Community gardening continues to grow in 
popularity with consumers and receives increasing support from local 
governments and charitable foundation grants.  New, exciting areas of study and research 
are becoming important parts of our expanding green universe, including 
horticulture therapy for the infirmed, physically challenged and elderly, gardening 
with high-risk teenagers, green roof and green wall technology, 
plant/pollution remediation -- to name a few on this growing list.

I believe in our primal symbiotic relationship with the green world as an 
emotional, spiritual outlet and source of renewal and wonder.  Horticultural 
fashion and economic trends sway and lurch over time, then circle back around.  I 
have faith in this cycle.

Ellen Goff,
pondering on the south bank of Mill Creek, SC
eog9612@aol.com
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