Re: Invasives vs vigorous plants (Was:Re: Concern for us collectors(Please Read)/ Diann)
Hello Gerry,
No need to duck..... thanks for pointing out another fine point. wish I had
thought of it at the time I wrote my original message. you are quite right about
the definition. However, in a majority of cases, this information if found out
Later....after we all have some in our nurseries and gardens.
I have sold plants that I do not now sell because of their behavior in my
garden and I can see where they could very well escape to become invasive. Some
are not longer in the garden and will not be again. A few remain, but are not sold
in the nursery.
No problems with reasonable regulations... most are of benefit to us all. Only
problem is nurseries have to abide or pay the penalty if caught breaking the
regulations. I know from reading all the lists and listening to friends that they
mail stuff to places it should not be shipped. In a private unmarked parcel no one
will ever check... that is the American way. Also probably how the West coast will
end up with Japanese Beetle.
And so it goes,...today... the 4th day of August , 2000.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Gerry/Bob O'Neill <eoneill@IBM.NET>
Subject: [SG] Invasives vs vigorous plants (Was:Re: [SG] Concern for us
collectors(Please Read)/ Diann)
> Gene, there's another distinction that is getting lost in this discussion.
> That is, plants that have the potential to take over your yard vs. plants
> that have the potential to escape from cultivation and outcompete natives
> in the wild on a large scale. Maybe that's the difference between
> "invasive" and "vigorous." A plant that spreads rampantly in your yard is
> vigorous...Plants like purple loosestrife or kudzu or banana poke in Hawaii
> that have altered entire ecosystems are invasive.
>
> It is the nurserymen like yourself and Dan who have to have the skills and
> perception to know the difference, not we gardeners. It is your
> responsibility to determine which plants are potential threats and it is
> our responsibility to listen to you and then not become agents of
> destruction by growing them.
>
> No, I don't want the USDA to tell me which plants I can grow or not grow,
> but if nurserymen are not responsible enough to stop selling the stuff and
> gardeners are not responsible enough to stop growing the stuff, then maybe
> some regulation *is* needed.
>
> Gerry (ducking and covering)
