Quote Originally Posted by catherine View Post
I just wrote an article for the local library newsletter on biodiversity as part of one my Extension Master Gardener group's activities. And yes, my first bullet was the importance of natives to support biodiversity. I think it's fine to throw in non-natives, but I prefer to be judicious. For instance, I bought a Japanese maple for DH for his 50th birthday (it still grows at the NJ house). I do love those trees and have considered adding one to my garden up here.

iris, I thought of you a couple of weeks ago when I went to the Vermont Flower Show, which is a big biannual event. The Vermont garden clubs had an exhibit, with juried floral arrangements presented.. they were similar to the ones I've seen you submit for competition. They were fun to look at.


And yes, pinkytoe, horticulture groups definitely skew older and female.
I just got back from a flower show today. The St. Louis Daffodil Society had its show and we had to recruit DH at the last minute to fill a class. Guess who won best in show with his design? Yeah, it was DH. His head is swelled at the moment.

living without the garden staples of hostas, peonies, 99% of the iris cultivars, 99% of Lilies, hydrangeas, daffodils, daylilies, etc…. Just to name a very few… Those are what we’re not allowed to have when we stick only to natives.




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