GardenRant posts this workweek havegone there – questioning the seldom questioned conventional wisdom these day about native - works superiority and those bad “ exotics . ” Today I ’m summate to the discussion the former from the most famous native - industrial plant counselor of them all – Dr. Doug Tallamyof the University of Delaware ’s Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology . He utter this week at a “ Green Matters ” symposium near me .
I ’d get a line Tallamy speaker before and once again , he was terrific , even fighting a cold . He makes his case in an accessible , inviting way that does n’t blame gardeners ! Hedoesblame people who apply their acreage to grow nothing but useless turf – blame that I hold up wholeheartedly .
Central to our late treatment , Tallamy went on to describe the traditional measure we homeowners have used in take plant for our garden and yards – esthetics , admit finding the right focal point and anchors for garden conception , and possibly some plants that create privacy .
Did he evidence the audience we ’re spoilt , unethical , selfish multitude for care about “ cosmetic value , ” as some aboriginal - plant purists do ? give thanks goodness , no . He simply root on us to sum up ecological criteria like doctor grease , protecting watersheds and of trend , supporting food webs when choosing garden plant . ( notification : not JUST flow his beloved insects but the whole range of eco - services that plant – from anywhere – typically put up . )
This playground slide is an aeriform horizon of Tallamy ’s own home landscape , which he happily noted even includes a flake of lawn . Unlike so many of his most outspoken helper , he ’s no purist .
I look myself among Tallamy ’s many fans for his inclusive and – let ’s be honest – naturalistic message , which I believe results in many more plant being plant and much more welfare to the environment than the native - only access ever could .
It also helps the medication go down that Tallamy seems like a genuinely nice person , not captive on shaming us gardeners .
Moving on , the image above , the inside of a pithy perennial fore , really piddle the case for leaving staunch up through the wintertime . On the right are some pithy - halt perennial in the winter garden .
eventually , I have a enquiry I ’d make out to have had the hazard to ask of Tallamy – about ground - nestle bees , which he encourage citizenry to leave some bare ground for , or at least ground that ’s easily dug up .
I used to have a garden orotund enough to place aside space for priming nests , somewhere I ’d never have to tend up - close . But now , tending a small garden , there ’s no means I want to promote flat coat nest . Though Tallamy told us not to worry , saying the primer - nesters wo n’t sting , like yellow jackets do , I ’ve been attacked by swarms of land - nesters , by bumblebees and some others I could n’t identify . Not only is it scary and painful for the gardener ; it can result in the ground nest being destroyed by the ( sad , guilty - feeling ) nurseryman . So what ’s the answer ?
Big ikon , allow ’s keep reading Tallamy but also seem at the resultant from other investigator in fields outside entomology and ecology ( how about horticulture ? ) that point to conclusions contrary to his . I say the more research the good , particularly when resultant role are value with an open mind .
