Re: Purple Loosestrife (was Gooseneck...) -Reply

I commend you, Barb and others, on your
responsible gardening.  I have actually been to
a state-wide seminar where a nationally known
gardener showed pictures of this in her garden
and said, basically, "sorry, gotta have it," or had
a knowledgeable people at large nurseries say
about other plants in their garden, "oh well,
someone else will have to deal with it after I'm
gone (the size of a tree they planted, etc.)  It
just infuriates me.  Total selfishness, basically.

>>> Barb Pernacciaro <bpern@idcnet.com>
07/23/98 01:12pm >>>
Great information, Peggy, and there was an
article in the Madison (WI)
State Journal today on the subject.  To
paraphrase:
...Purple loosestrife was unknowingly brought
to this country from
Europe in the 1830's as a stowaway in ballast
sand and is found today in
26 states and covers  as much as 400,000 acres
crowding out native
plants and destroying the habitat of birds and
animals which depend on
native plants. A group of ecologists from the
Wis. DNR have studied the
problem for years, and have just started tests on
a lake near Madison
with biological preditors--two kinds of beetles
which eat the
loosestife's leaves -- a better solution than
pulling plants by hand or
using herbicides. In Wisconsin, it is also illegal
to cultivate,
distribute or sell it. It is suggested that anyone
who has it , dig it
up and put it in the garbage before it flowers or
goes to seed... 

On a drive today, I saw it along the Rock River
where I'd never noticed
it before--and I know of a marsh 5 miles away
where it has completely
covered over--a pretty sight until you realize
what has actually
happened to the once diverse and duck
frequented marsh.  I admit to
having it, but no more. I want to be a
responsible gardener. Out it
goes!
-- 
Barb Perna
Southcental WI,  Zone 4


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