native (a 'weedy' meridian in Berkeley)

At 11:53 AM 4/8/99 -0700, Jerry Heverly wrote:
>  (talking about Berkeley's University Avenue meridian strip)  <snip>
>But the median strips look like vacant lots that haven't been tended to in
>years.  Weeds abound.  No doubt the more conservative elements within the
>city are fit to be tied over the messy appearance of the first street that
>visitors often see as they enter the city.  And the nativists have given
>the recidivists all the ammunition they could desire by acceding to the
>city law against the use of synthetic herbicides.
>
>Virtually all the weeds marring the strips are monocots.  Spraying with
>either of the selective herbicides would ameliorate the problem within a
>couple of weeks. (The remaining dicots could be removed with potassium
>fatty acids{dishwashing soap} or hand pulling.)   I believe the public,
>especially the Berkeley public, would accept further use of native plants
>on city property if the University Ave strip did a better job of selling
>the concept.

Hi Jerry - 

The problem with the median strip on University Avenue in Berkeley is
not that it's planted with natives, but that they chose to use annual
native wildflowers for the groundcover.  Annual meadows are notoriously
difficult to establish and to keep going - introduced weeds tend to
find their way in all too easily, especially in urban areas where these
species tend to abound in vacant lots and neglected yards.  The soils
in these area are already full of weed seeds, and cultivation brings
those ready to break dormancy to the surface - usually resulting in a
better crop of weeds than non-cultivated ground.  Had those who had
created these median though more carefully about what species to plant,
the results would be far more long lasting and easier to maintain.

Spraying would help the eliminate these weeds - temporarily, but they
would come in again over a very short time from wind-blown seeds.  it
would also offend the politics of many Berkeley citizens (Oakland has
also banned pesticides in public parks!).  Evergreen ground covers and
thick permenant mulching would solve the problem for good, inhibiting
the germination of weeds and creating a cleaner, more 'well kept' look.

Medians need plants that grow slowly, look good most of the time, have
some character which is interesting and perhaps seasonal effect.  There
are many Calif. natives which fit this criterion, as are their other
mediterranean climate species. but clearly not all would be appropriate.
It is a real shame that this project backfired so badly, creating such
an eye-sore and a real nuisance to maintain!

Sean O.

Sean A. O'Hara                       sean.ohara@poboxes.com
h o r t u l u s   a p t u s          710 Jean Street
'a garden suited to its purpose'     Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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