Re: "Time for the return of the native"
- Subject: Re: [SG] "Time for the return of the native"
- From: M* L*
- Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 08:10:59 -0700
I think what we have here is provincialism. The American continent is not
California. Plants invasive in California do not even last a winter in
most of the country, but USDA seems to think we've all got to live as if we
were in California. California has, after the Helix aspersa Mueller
introduction, done a pretty fair job of excluding harmful insects. Some
have slipped in, in spite of Keystone Kops measures, but the effort has
been made. Perhaps the California Dept. of Ag should restrict plants as
well, in accord with the "natives or nothing" people. Beats me how they're
going to get rid of all of those alien earthworms, beets, peas, chard,
parsley, lettuces, brassicas, carrots, citrus, grains, etc.,
though. Margaret L
>The second priority after that, for me, is useful plants: I have naturalized
>parsely and chard, speaking of plants that wildlife adore. And then, what I
>call near-natives: things from Chile (the nearest Mediterranean climate to
>mine), and from the Sonoran floristic province, which is next door to mine.
>Though those are hard to find.
>
>Other than that, I do plant what I will, but I think about what those plants
>will do in my environment, to the best of my ability.
