Hello All Landscape Committee Members...and any others
I believe in multi-prong solutions as addressed in the Education Committee tasks - government, public, landscapers, growers. And, I agree we can only handle one solution at a time, narrowing our focus. I think the most important focus is encouraging the general public homeowner gardeners to use native plants. In my experience, many home gardener don't plant natives because they are unfamiliar with using them. People who are not home gardeners usually aren't much interested in any plants in particular except that it looks good and stays alive in their yard. There was even a study a few years back in a new development in Enterprise where natives were planted and the homeowners were taught about maintaining them. The idea failed. The plants died. I'll try to find the results of this experiment. Most homes I see are mow and blow. Homeowners who mow and blow themselves or have a company mow and blow aren't interested in gardening. If they're not interested in gardening I don't think they will seek out natives and that's what it takes...seeking out the natives.
I would like to see more classes and workshops for garden clubs, classes offered at botanic gardens and demonstration gardens, nurseries that have some natives for sale, and libraries, and articles in garden magazines.
The classes should be practical, that is, not just what is a native but how to plant and maintain them. I have done this at a nursery that sells natives and non-natives. Only 10 people showed up but it was well-received and they had lots of questions. A native yard is not no maintenance. I have one and until it's established it is work before it becomes low maintenance. That's why using natives is for gardeners, people who get dirt under their fingernails. At this point I don't think we can convert people not interested in plants even if it's good for wildlife and a healthy environment. The ones who do plant in a neighborhood will convert others through example. It is a slow process but I have seen progress.
Neta Villalobos-Bell
Cuplet Fern Chapter