Ken's Garden Golden Rule

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.