Re: George Ball's NYT op-ed article

**"Marge Talt" m*@hort.net**

Since I can't access the NY Times, I have not read George Ball's
article.  However, this thread concerns a topic on which I have spent
many hours of research regarding proposed USDA/APHIS legislation that
affects the import of plants for planting (i.e. anything we might
want to grow in our gardens in any form from seed to bulb to cutting
to rooted plant).

Allow me to preface my diatribe by saying that I have nothing against
native plants; I grow and admire many of them, just as I grow and
admire many 'exotic' plants.  Conversely, I curse and pull quite a
few rampant natives just as I do rampant 'exotics' when they exhibit
world conquering tendencies.   I am, however, getting tired of the
current 'native plant' bandwagon trailing its potentially long and
restrictive sets of legislation that have been proposed and are
slowly grinding their way toward enactment.  For a taste of what is
to come, thoroughly read the documents on
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/safeguarding/. 

The current status of the 'white list' is that it does not, as such
exist, but language advocating it has been inserted into recent PPQ
proposed legislation, so it is going to happen unless the
horticultural world gets off its collective duff and starts writing
letters to APHIS and USDA.  Proposed legislation is posted for a
limited time on the National Register and can be viewed and commented
to online - on the web.  That's how they tell the general public
(most of whom have never heard of it, let alone looked at it) what
they plan to do.  Since few know about it to comment, most of what
they plan moves right on ahead into law.   The beginning of major
restrictions on what you and I can plant was the enforcement of an
old law requiring phytosanitary certificates for all seed coming into
this country.  That law was on the books for years, but not enforced.
 It is now being enforced.  Joyce Fingerut of NARGS has worked long
and hard with USDA to get them to see reason concerning small
quantities of seed; I do not know if she is succeeding.  That is a
whole 'nother' story.

One of the issues of 'exotic' plants replacing natives that I do not
see discussed; one of prime importance in my view, is that of the
disturbance of the native habitat by human activities or those of
over-abundant wildlife (i.e. white tail deer who are decimating the
forbs and young trees in all eastern US forest areas).  I am on
Trillium list and note the number of posts from those who travel
around the country to observe Trillium in the wild and report that
once healthy stands no longer exist because of deer damage.  That's
just one example.

On Carnivorous Plant list, there has been a recent thread about the
destruction of bogs holding good populations of Sarracenia and other,
some rare, CPs, through human activity.  Our own government is now in
the process of selling some of these bogs as excess non-productive
public lands that no longer fit into the scope of the Forest Service
(i.e. they don't produce salable timber or other exploitable natural
resources).  This is done with one hand while the other works toward
restricting the import of 'exotic' plants for horticultural use in
order to "safeguard" our native ecosystems.  This is the same
government that introduced, and in many cases planted, the bulk of
those 'exotic' plants that have turned out to be truly invasive;
indeed, some branches of same still instruct farmers to plant Hall's
honeysuckle and fertilize it to encourage game.

Tony Avent once posted that " According to Dr. Sarah Reichard of the
University of Washington and USDA advisor on invasive plants; the
majority (I recall between 80 and 90%) of the official list of
invasive (displacing natives in an undisturbed habitat) were
introduced, planted, and promoted by the US Government.  Most of
these were by the US Soil Conservation Service, the USDA, and the US
Fish and Wildlife.  These were planted by the 100,000's....not in
ones and twos.  You will find that
many of the plants designated as invasive by the USDA are still
promoted for planting by other branches of the US Government. I do
have a problem putting the fox in charge of the hen house."

In my own area, across the street, in fact, is a bit of rare
ecosystem, the Travilah Serpentine Area considered Maryland's rarest
natural community type. It's the 2nd largest of 4 known sites
supporting 7 state listed threatened or endangered species + 13
watchlist species.  Permission has been given for development of
McMansions on this land, with a section reserved as public park to
"preserve" the ecosystem.  Balls!  They might as well pave the entire
thing.   Reading the minutes of the planning board meeting about this
can raise blood pressure in those with low tolerance for BS.  Once
such an area is disturbed by humans, it is doomed. It won't be the
'exotic' plants in my garden that cause its demise, either.

Many native plants (as well as 'exotic' ones)  have very specific
requirements for survival.  If those are not met for any reason, such
as over browsing, human activities or climate changes, for example,
they die out and leave empty space for colonization by species who
can survive in the environment at hand.  All plants are opportunists.
 The strong will survive and prosper and the weak will die.  Human
activity (roads, houses, off road vehicle use, global warming -
whatever) is incredibly more harmful to our 'native' plant life than
any horticultural escapee.  There are virtually no areas of virgin
wilderness around today, particularly in heavily populated parts of
this country; even what looks like wild woods today might have been a
cultivated field 100 years ago.  Even if it was woods that long ago,
it is no doubt now but a fragment of what it originally was. 
Fragmentation of ecosystems by human activity encourages truly
invasive plants.

While we're on the subject of 'invasive', let's make sure we are
using the word correctly.  An "invasive species" is defined as a
species that is 1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under
consideration and 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause
economic or environmental harm or harm to
human health. (Executive Order 13112). 
http://www.invasivespecies.gov. Environmental harm is usually defined
at disruption and displacement of native plants in a functioning
natural ecosystem.

One also needs to keep in mind that a 'functioning *natural*
ecosystem' is just that.  It's not some bit of waste ground or run
over scrub woods next door to the local service station.  That space
has no doubt been occupied by weeds for years.  There aren't a lot of
honest to god functioning natural ecosystems left in this country
today.

Plants that seed heavily around the garden may seem invasive to the
gardener, but they need to fall under this accepted description to be
considered invasive.  So, let's use the word correctly when we write
about over enthusiastic plants.  If a plant does not meet the above
definition, it ain't 'invasive'...find another descriptive adjective.

While we're defining words, we could work on the term 'native'. 
Native to where and when?  How far do we go back in history to
determine if a plant is 'native'?   Panayoti Kelaidis put this
question quite well once in a post to Alpine-L.  I'm sure he wouldn't
mind me quoting him:

"Do we mean pre-European settlement, or prior to Amerindian
settlement? America's "native peoples" (Eurasian transplants,
incidentally) are now credited with vectoring more and more "native"
plants (the ranges of Kentucky Coffee trees in the East and Datura
wrightii in the West are two of many plants that may in large part be
thanks to prehistoric human distribution). How far back do we go?
Coast redwoods and cycads have grew [sic] in Colorado in Cenozoic
times: are you going to tell me that these are not native? If I were
to plant my rock garden with a lush endemic Tertiary flora (it could
be argued that's precisely what many woodland gardeners are doing),
would I not be trumping your pitifully depauperate Pleistocene flora
(horribly mucked up by mammoths and cave men)? You can see that
things can get a bit slippery if you really want to get
literal-minded."

Trying to recapture some supposedly more perfect past by controlling
what grows where is IMO an exercise in futility, but it does keep
growing numbers of people busy and out of other trouble, I suppose. 
It is too bad that all the energy devoted to banning 'exotic' plants
can't be put to good use in curbing destructive (but lucrative) human
behavior which is the root cause of any loss of native ecosystems.

Fifty years ago, hardly anyone knew what a native plant was, let
alone wanted to save it.  I think educating people about native
plants is a good thing as long as it does not lead to fanatic
behavior, which, sadly, it appears to be doing.  So much
misinformation based on no or faulty science is being bandied about
today in the name of saving our native plants.

I would find Joan Gardner Ehrenfeld's letter to the editor more
compelling had she cited actual studies and facts rather than
regurgitating the bit  about garden escapees harming range land and
production forests - both areas that have already been thoroughly
disturbed by human activity.  

I would very much like to see someone itemize these 'careful
estimates' of economic damage.  I see this sort of phrase bruited
about with large numbers attached but never with any specifics.  Who
is compiling this information and from what sources and based on what
scientific data?

There is no doubt that some areas have become over-run by introduced
plants, but before people become xenophobic about 'exotic' plants,
they need to address the reasons they may be flourishing to the
detriment of whatever plant the person considers 'better' or 'more
worthy' for whatever personal reasons of their own.  Plants are
plants.  They have no agenda except survival; they survive where the
environment is suitable for them to do so.  People are the ones who
feel the need to label and control them.  

I just wish that all the "ecologists, biologists, botanists, 
zoologists and countless volunteers who are motivated to preserve our
 national heritage, and our continental biodiversity" would
concentrate on the human activities that alter our ecosystems beyond
hope and not on restricting plants used in horticulture.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Shadyside Garden Designs

----------
> From: Maryann Whitman <maryannwhitman@comcast.net>
> 
> And this is one of the letters that will be published probably this
weekend:
> 
> To the Editor:
> Re "Border War," by George Ball (Op-Ed, March 19):
> 
> No ecologist argues that all garden plants should be jettisoned.
Rather,
> ecologists have documented the tremendous damage done to natural
ecosystems,
> including rangelands and production forests, by a small number of
garden
> species that escape their domestic setting, reproduce abundantly
without
> human intervention and displace native species.
> A recent careful estimate of the economic damage done by nonnative
plants
> puts the cost at $35 billion a year. With this kind of impact, it
does not
> seem to be too great a request to ask that gardeners give up the
relatively
> few species known to cause problems and focus on the numerous
species that
> can be enjoyed without worry and without guilt.
> A good gardener doesn't sling mud.
>  
> Joan Gardner Ehrenfeld
> New Brunswick, N.J., March 20, 2006
> The writer is a professor of ecology at Rutgers University.
> 
> 
> 
> Maryann 
>  
> Maryann Whitman
> Editor, Wild Ones Journal 
> www.for-wild.org 
>  
> Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes: promotes
environmentally sound
> landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the
preservation,
> restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Wild
Ones is a
> not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization.
>  
>  
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> [g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
Maryann
> Whitman
> Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 10:32 AM
> To: 'Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum'
> Subject: Re: [GWL] George Ball's NYT op-ed article
> 
> One such letter to the Times:
> ====================================================
> 
> To the Editor of the New York Times in response to op-ed
contribution by
> George Ball, March 19, 2006:
> 
>  
> 
> A 'debate' is a system of logical argument. What Mr. Ball launched
was a
> fulminating diatribe based on self-serving emotion, little if any
fact and
> concerned only with his 'bottom line'. 
> 
> He does great disservice to the readers of the New York Times by
grossly
> misrepresenting the concerns of ecologists, biologists, botanists,
> zoologists and countless volunteers who are motivated to preserve
our
> national heritage, and our continental biodiversity. 
> 
> Even on his own turf, horticulture, where one would expect
knowledge and
> facts, Mr. Ball is irrational. Contrary to his statements,
magnolias
> (Magnolia acuminata, and others), sycamores (Platanus
occidentalis), and
> roses (Rosa palustris, R. blanda, R. carolina and others), are all
native to
> North America, onions (Allium cernuum) and garlic (A. canadense)
are too;
> kudzu and purple loosestrife were intentional agricultural and
horticultural
> introductions.
> 
> One hardly knows where to start setting straight Mr. Ball.
> 
> Maryann 
>  
> Maryann Whitman
> Editor, Wild Ones Journal 
> www.for-wild.org 
>  
> Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes: promotes
environmentally sound
> landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the
preservation,
> restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Wild
Ones is a
> not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization.
>  
>  
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> [g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
Graham Rice
> Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 7:37 AM
> To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
> Subject: Re: [GWL] George Ball's NYT op-ed article
> 
> There is a great deal of hysteria about the problem of invasives
and 
> in that respect it's good to see George's more moderate view in
such 
> an important forum. However, it's worth noting that amongst 
> professionals involved in the invasives issue (some of whom, of 
> course, the target of his criticism) his op-ed piece has been
widely 
> vilified.
> 
> Firstly, of course, it's said that sales of native plants must be 
> impacting the seed industry significantly - hence the need for
George 
> to write the piece at all! Secondly and far more importantly, there

> are unfortunately some significant errors of fact in the piece
which 
> have been widely ridiculed and which certainly reduce the strength
of 
> his argument. For example, he says kudzu and purple loosestrife
were 
> "accidental introductions from Asia". Not so - not accidental, and
in 
> the case of purple loosestrife not from Asia.
> 
> The piece has caused anger and derision, prompted a letter-writing 
> campaign to the Times, and opposing op-ed pieces have also been 
> contributed.
> 
> The views of some of the invasives professionals are certainly 
> extreme (and, says he matching their own cynicism) their continuing

> employment depends on their talking up the issue. There is a need
to 
> propagate a more moderate view. But in this case, and considering
the 
> mailing list on which we are now discussing this article, there's 
> also a lesson for us all: Get your facts right. [How the famous NYT

> fact-checkers let the mistakes through is another issue...]
> 
> Graham Rice
> Milford, PA
> 
> 
> >I would like very much to initiate a discussion on George Ball's
article in
> >the Times. Betty Mackey has said she thought it was excellent. May
I ask
> >specifically what aspect you agreed with?
> >
> >I expect there are many strong opinions out there. I too have
strong
> >opinions but I don't intend to rile anyone. I'm asking for
opinions.
> >
> >Maryann
> >
> >Maryann Whitman
> >Editor, Wild Ones Journal
> >www.for-wild.org
> >
> >Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes: promotes
environmentally
> sound
> >landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the
preservation,
> >restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Wild
Ones is a
> >not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization.
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> >[g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
bbmackey
> >Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 12:44 PM
> >To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
> >Subject: Re: [GWL] Geroge Ball's talk at GWA Philly Flower Show
> >
> >Last Tuesday I was interviewed on Nellie Neal's radio show in
Mississippi
> >and one of my topics was trends and the Philadelphia Flower Show,
so I
> >picked up on some of the themes George Ball had mentioned.
> >
> >Also I saw George's excellent editorial on native plants in the
New York
> >Times -- Saturday I think.
> >
> >Betty Mackey
> >www.mackeybooks.com
> >
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> >
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&lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;
> >
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