I never need an excuse to celebrate the Earth, but
if one needs an excuse, or a gentle—but firm
reminder to “act locally think globally” the day set
aside to ponder all the ways we humans impact our
one and only home is Saturday, April 22.
(It might be a good excuse to have your first garden
party of the season, as well.)
I have shared my “Golden Rule” with you before, but
feel it is particularly appropriate now:
We gardeners should always strive to improve the
health of the earth, leaving the places we live
better off than we found them. This idea not only
applies to our actions in the garden, but also to
our treatment of the world outside our garden’s gates.
As gardeners we have a special connection to the
earth, which makes us the ideal advocates for the
natural world.
- Part of our responsibility, our stewardship, is
to continually educate ourselves. - We have an obligation to speak out against harm
to the
environment, doing
whatever we can to limit sprawl, preserve open space
and protect the few natural areas we have left in
this country. - We must seek out and join local chapters of
native plant societies
dedicated to protecting local threatened species. - When we see some beautiful plant in the wild, we
should take pictures only, and not dig it up.
Conservation groups are also a rich source of
information and advice: The New England Wild Flower
Society is one of the best in the U.S. and the North
American Native Plant Campaign is a great resource
in Canada.
This internet site, Native Plant Conservation Campaign, lists
of U.S. and Canadian provincial chapters that can
provide information regarding native plant
enthusiasts in your area.
And most important, when purchasing wildflowers for
your garden (like the trillium, left), be sure they
are nursery propagated
plants not just “nursery grown”. Look for that claim
and if you do not see it, ask the nursery owner or
manager where their wildflowers come from. If the
price asked for a threatened species seems too good
to be true, it is – don’t buy them.
The best way to procure wildflowers for your garden
is through native plant societies and plant sales
conducted by conservation groups and botanic
gardens. Purchasing plants from reputable nurseries
actually helps to stabilize populations of
threatened species in the wild. There’s good news,
too. More and more nurseries are noticing the demand
and propagating supplies to meet it.
Be sure to check out the following nurseries
websites: Vermont
Ladyslipper Company, Hillside
Nursery and Plant Delights
Nursery, Inc.
Last, (for this newsletter) but certainly not least:
- Give up those few remaining chemicals you may
still be using in the
garden and embrace the organic way of controlling
weeds and enhancing soil (Be sure to dispose of
potentially hazardous materials in accordance with
local rules) - Build a bigger compost pile and use it instead
of peat moss - Plant a tree, remembering the rule (for trees
and other plants): “right plant in the right place” - Join a native plant society and let local and
national government leaders hear your voice. - Save all the leaves that fall on your garden, to
make iinto FREE compost and/or use as mulch
Most of all get out into your garden,big or small,
and enjoy it. And share you passion (and knowledge)
with family and friends.