What can each of us do, in small and large ways, with native plants to make life a little better for those coming after us - all living things coming after us. Some thoughts on propagation and restoration of native plants of the SE US for anyone with a few pots on the porch to endless acres.
Landscape Rescue
Thu, Dec 17 2009 07:48 AM
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My friend Avi Askey of Overhill Gardens happened to be working on a project in Vonore, TN when I called him to offer him a bunch of deer necks, (that's another story) that I had just picked up - in Vonore. So I went to drop them off, and turned out he and his employee were not installing a landscape, but were digging out large, beautiful plants from a landscape he had installed 5 years ago. The company management changed and apparently their tastes in landscaping as well. At least he had some warning and was able to go and get some of the plants out before they were thrown in the landfill. What irony.
This is sad indeed, but for those of us in the plant business it is commonplace. Karen Petrey, landscape designer, and Kris Johnson, Resource Manager (I think?) NPS, were out at the nursery the other day and I complained that I could think of less than a handfull of landscapes that I had designed over the 26 years of Native Gardens that still existed. Karen, who installed hundreds of residential and commercial landscapes said that it is just the nature of the beast. Some people change landscapes like they change paint colors or furniture. Avi has the same frustration, obviously. Odd to me, but then redecorating just for the sake of change has always seemed an incredible waste to me. I rarely waste my time or resources repainting, and furniture, well I chose furniture carefully and then I get pretty attached, so it rarely changes at my house. And I'm pretty attached to my plantings, though things die and changes occur, but I've never had to do a wholesale ripping out of what I've planted. Maybe I'm lazy?
Anyway... Avi offered me whatever I wanted! At first I thought, no way. I don't have time to deal with more plants. After all, I've been trying to get rid of plants so I have less of the nursery chores to deal with. But then I remembered that I had gotten a small grant to landscape the front of our office at work, and I could use these wonderful, mature perennials. YEAH! But I had my small truck and it was full of deer meat (mostly for my dogs, yes, that other story), so went back around the lake and got the big truck. When I returned, Avi and his employee had dug buckets and buckets of stuff for me and had it ready to load. Wow. This is too easy. I dug a bit more, but my truck was soon full! What a lucky day for me and the plants!
Avi was happy to find a good home for his plants and we, Foothills Land Conservancy, will feel even better about using rescued plants in our landscape. Our building has got to be one of the ugliest in Maryville, but it is right on the greenway and a creek. Doesn't feel like we are the city. But the entrance has these basketball shaped plants that NEVER change. And monkeygrass. Pretty exciting stuff, (yawn...) Being able to add some natives outside our window will add a level of natural comfort for us nature geeks, as well as year-round interest to us looking out the windows, and those who happen to pass by. It will be an opportunity to expose at least a few more people to the fun and benefits of natives, including my work mates. Maybe they will decide to rip out their old landscape and put in natives???
THANKS AVI!!
p.s.
If you need some deer necks, call me. There's plenty more!!
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