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"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD><TITLE>The library has in its collection the Encyclopedia of Hardy Plants, a book by Derek Fell, copyright date 2007, published by Firefly Books, LTD</TITLE>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A very nice letter. I hope that Mr. Fell responds
favorably. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>However, the history of invasions of other plants
and organisms is full of such cases where plant fanciers want to overrule Nature
or God or reality, and place plants according to their desires wherever they
want them. "Hardy" is hardly a sufficient criterion for living with Nature;
often the term's meaning to gardeners is limited to whether or not a plant will
freeze in a given area. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is ironic that the more "hardy" an
alien plant is--that is, the more suited the new environment it is,
the more likely it is to proliferate, and thus interefere with the interactions
of the species which have co-evolved together in any one place (habitat or
microhabitat). Plants which do not reproduce in habitats into which they are
introduced or even in other nearby or even distant habiats to which their
propagules might be transported by natural agency (wind, animals, etc.) are
least likely to do harm by proliferating in natural areas or other places where
they are not wanted. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>These habitats will always be with us, but to the
extent that they can be resisted, the better off will be Nature, <EM>and</EM>
humans and their cultural/economic systems. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Keep up the good work.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>WT</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=pembrokes@ne.rr.com href="mailto:pembrokes@ne.rr.com">gg lilly</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=steveyoung@aol.com
href="mailto:steveyoung@aol.com">steveyoung@aol.com</A> ; <A
title=apwg@lists.plantconservation.org
href="mailto:apwg@lists.plantconservation.org">apwg@lists.plantconservation.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, December 23, 2008 6:50
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [APWG] 2008 12-21 letter to
Dereck Fell</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=cover-sheet>Hello, Steve,<BR>When I asked the APWG about what to do
about the invasive plant suggestion in Derek Fell's The Encyclopedia of Hardy
Plants, you suggested a polite letter to the author. I liked the idea; here is
the result. The letter will go out in today's mail. Happy Holidays to you all!
Grace Lilly <A href="mailto:pembrokes@ne.rr.com">pembrokes@ne.rr.com</A>
<HR>
</DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><FONT
face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">63 Talbot
Hill Road</SPAN></FONT></st1:address></st1:Street><FONT face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face=Arial
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Swanzey</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, <st1:State
w:st="on">NH</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">03446</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">December 22,
2008<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dear Mr.
Fell,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
Our library recently purchased your book <U>The Encyclopedia of Hardy
Plants</U>. The collections librarian told me that a feature article in the
<U>Library Journal</U> entitled "Regional Gardening North by Northeast" gave
your book a starred review.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
I’m an amateur naturalist who loves to garden. I have had horticulture
training as a plant conservation volunteer for the New England Wild Flower
Society and as a Pennsylvania Master Gardener. Your book title sounded
interesting, and I looked forward to reading it. After I saw your hardy plant
choices, I was confused. I asked myself, why did an internationally
respected gardening expert recommend plants that degrade our environment?
Then, I answered my own question. I recognized that someone who loves the
landscape as you do would not deliberately choose to harm it.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
I knew that you would be delighted to read this letter as it explains why some
of the plant choices in <U>The Encyclopedia of Hardy Plants</U> would be
harmful to many gardens. I hope that you will receive the information as it is
intended, with the best of intentions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
My deep concern, and an area that I wanted to explore with you, is invasive
plants. Several of your choices are considered invasive species in many states
and should not be planted under any circumstances, hardiness
aside.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
Here is how The Nature Conservancy describes as invasive species: “On their
home turf, plant and animal populations are kept in check by natural controls,
like predators and food supply. However, when a species is
introduced—accidentally or intentionally—into a new landscape that is not used
to its presence, the consequences can be devastating. Most of these
‘non-native’ species do not misbehave. But some non-native species spread
unchecked by the lack of natural competitors and predators. They push
out native species and cause ecological chaos. These are known as ‘invasive’
species. All habitats are vulnerable to these invasions, from lakes,
rivers and oceans, to plains and forests.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
One plant you recommended, Chinese bittersweet, did come with the caveat, “is
similar to American bittersweet, but tends to be more rampant. While it is
handsome in fruit, it has become a rather noxious weed in the northeastern
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
I think that your caveat might have been stronger had you known that the
National Park Service’s Alien Plant Working Group lists oriental bittersweet
on its “Weeds Gone Wild” website (http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/vines.htm).
The government’s Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection's
Invasive Plants Website includes oriental bittersweet in its “Weed of the
Week” literature <I><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">(http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/oriental-bittersweet.pdf.)
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
Another hardy suggestion is Scotch broom. It is considered invasive in CA, DE,
GA, MA, NC, NY, OR, SC, TN, VA, and WA. The <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">USDA</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">National</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Invasives</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Species</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> lists different sources that
explain the plant’s destructiveness. The USDA National Agricultural Library in
its “Weed of the Week” format explained that Scotch broom is “an aggressive,
rapid spreading plant can grow 3 feet in the first year. It can form dense
impenetrable stands that degrade rangeland, prevent forest regeneration, and
create fire hazards. It invades rapidly following logging, land clearing, and
burning. It can form pure dense stands for miles along highway and country
roads to crowd out native species and destroy wildlife habitat.” (<I><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/scotch-broom.pdf</SPAN></I>)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
Although other plant choices in the encyclopedia are also problematic as
invasives, I thought I would end this letter talking about Acer platanoides. I
found this information from the National Park Service (<I><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><A
href="http://www.nps.gov/plants/ALIEN/pubs/midatlantic/acpl.htm"><FONT
color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext">http://www.nps.gov/plants/ALIEN/pubs/midatlantic/acpl.htm</SPAN></FONT></A>):</SPAN></I>
“Norway maple is found in 13 states in the eastern <st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>, from <st1:State
w:st="on">Maine</st1:State> to <st1:State w:st="on">Virginia</st1:State> and
west to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Wisconsin</st1:State></st1:place>. It is recognized as an invasive
plant in many of these states. Norway maple has escaped cultivation and
invades forests, fields, and other natural habitats. It forms monotypic stands
that create dense shade and it displaces native trees, shrubs and
herbs.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
One state that has Norway maple on its invasive plant list is <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Hampshire</st1:place></st1:State>, my
native state. Norway maple causes problems with our NH maple syrup industry
since it outcompetes our native sugar maples because it is a prolific seeder,
leafs out earlier, and keeps it leaves longer. I truly hope that one day we
<st1:State w:st="on">New Hampshire</st1:State> residents don’t look at our
hillsides in the fall and see the yellow leaves of <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Norway</st1:place></st1:country-region> maples
instead of the red leaves of sugar maples.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
I wanted to recommend the book <U>Bringing Nature Home, How native plants
sustain wildlife in our gardens</U> by Douglas W. Tallamy, Timber Press,
copyright 2007. This landmark book beautifully illustrates the
relationship between native plants and native wildlife. Tallamy is a Professor
and the Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Delaware</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> and a nationally
respected authority on native plants. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
I look forward to hearing from you. My email address: <A
href="mailto:pembrokes@ne.rr.com"><FONT color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext">pembrokes@ne.rr.com</SPAN></FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>PCA's Alien
Plant Working Group mailing
list<BR>APWG@lists.plantconservation.org<BR>http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org<BR><BR>Disclaimer<BR>Any
requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the opinion of
the individual posting the message.
<P>
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