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RE: Using botanical and common names

When I discovered this list, I was sorely intimidated by the Latin
naming. I almost bailed out, but switched to digest mode and reviewed in
a scanning mode with the intent of exposing myself to the Latin stuff
and see if it could make me a better gardener. It has had minimal if any
affect. Until I need to communicate with certain other gardeners whom I
seldom run into except on this list, but I dearly cherish some of them.
I remain here and in good humor for a list of reasons
Having said that I will now forcefully maintain that for me,  there is
no Latin/Non-Latin name issue. The question is scope. If I stay in my
garden and nickname all my own plants jenny and jeff and fred gipper,
that's all the names that matters to me, my scope is decidedly local.
When my neighbor and I swap stories of difficulties or successes, we
have to use a name that is nominally universal at least within our
neighborhood or town. So common names seem to do. My scope is still
quite local.  When I decide to search farther afield for garden
candidates or gardening experiences, I run into the problems of name
overlap, such as "which milkweed are you referring to?". Now my scope
has broadened to the point of needing a more universally accepted naming
system [this doesn't happen very often, local gardeners are frequently
the best resource]. No-one has ever proposed an alternate to the
existing Latin/Greek naming system, so it's the only universal one. If I
ever need one. I am glad it's there.
Now on our seeds-list, we have denizens, cavepersons, vendors, casual
hobbyists, professors, waltermittys and those enviable international
seed swappers, all crossing paths.  Each cannot be required to
successfully translate every plant-phyte they deal with between either
Latin OR common names. Hopefully there is some understanding that when
possible you should try to use both common and scientific names. Some
don't want to. Their choice. Some don't know how (me). 
I still delete scads of posts because I cannot figure even what
kind-size-color-hardiness-habit-season a particular plant being
discussed is. It would be absolutely RUDE of me to butt in 2 days late
(I'm on the digest version) and say, "What's a Pharinakacea tetragort?".
Also realize that the same thing happens when someone describes only by
common name, a strange plant such as mortarwort ( a mythical exploding
plant)  :-)  which I had never heard of before. In each case I have to
decide by the shallowest scan if I am even interested. Many are
greenhouse subjects and have nothing to do with my interests. How can I
tell?

 I do have a Chiltern's and Thompson and Morgan catalogue which try to
use Latin names, but they don't have all that are discussed here, and
frequently don't teach me the important common names [as do my books].
It is important to me to learn the Latin and common names of all those
plants I am interested in, but I must also acknowledge that 99% of what
I buy/swap/find does not come with an informative name on it, so I may
never know anything but say "Shasta Daisy". Which works for me
everywhere I have been. None of my gardening neighbors and friends know
what an Aquilegia is but we all have columbines,... and mine is a fairly
well educated neighborhood.
I don't have any problem with the fact that I have to learn two sets of
names depending on who I am going to talk be talking to. It's a lot like
learning what Pop, cokes, soda, and fizzies are in different parts of
the country [Down South I was once asked "What kind of Cokes y'all
want"]. I actually consider the folks who insist on using
scientific-names-only the most handicapped because they may only be able
to talk among themselves, and would have to learn a list of regional
common names in order to reciprocate. This will not happen any faster
than if after 4 years of really trying, I have made only incremental
progress at learning scientific names. I will learn them and I will
learn them from my seed catalogues and from here as needed. It will just
take time and patience which I thank you all for.

The scientific names /common names flumdraggle is one of this lists
biggest advantages, and one of its biggest obstacles. The paradox tells
us that we are smack dab in the middle of pragmatic reality. Nothing
worthwhile is easy. Many worthwhile things are only within reach of a
vested few who have the time or resources. It's still amazing to me that
we are able to shrink the world as we do here on this wonderful page,
even as we are so free to come and go. I will stay and hope to be better
for it next year.

Keep your fingernails dirty, and don't eat ALL of your seeds   ;-]

Tim Chavez
z6 Wichita, Kansas USA
aka ZAP          

> Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
>
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