HOW DID THIS NATIVE PLANT GET IN MY GARDEN AND WHY


SHOULD I PLANT MORE? By Judy Ripley


(Above) Reedville living shoreline garden. Photo by Peggy Lassanski. (Left) Anne Olsen garden in summer.


birds, animals, plants and yes, humans. Mankind here, Manicus here abouticus, has been divided into several species. The “Born Heres,” with blood tests positive for ham biscuits, collards and grits (pronounced greeeeets) are the first on the genetic scale. They are greatly valued for their heritage and generations of history of the times and spaces here. The process of becoming a “born here” can take 3 generations or more.


T


They need no adaptation; they KNOW the winds, the water and the land. Their history is of being here. Next there are the “Come Heres.” They come from anywhere else to here. They bring a wide diversity and a sense of global influence. The may have come from Asia, Europe, Florida, New England or Naawthern Virginia. We all come together here, in this place and garden bringing a wide range of experiences and definitions to what we want to accomplish.


And so it is with the plants. In the beginning as Adam named all the plants and animals, the Garden was rich and full. Man had not yet messed with it.


The House & Home Magazine


his part of the world is unique for its diversity. We are sur- rounded by many species of


Over time with travel to foreign lands, exotic varieties of plants valued for their difference in color, shape and structure, were brought to our shores. Vast writings of botanical findings were published and remain our guides today.


Horticulturists, a specialized breed of


researchers, patiently develop varieties of plants according to desired features. A nondescript sweet potato vine grown agriculturally was developed by Alan Armitage to have leaves of burgundy and chartreuse and to be an ornamental addition to our gardens. So we have filled our yards and


gardens with what strikes our fancy. The catalogs are filled with color and varieties that go on our “must have” list. And so we plant. We plant, we weed, we try to handle


the insect and critter damage and it becomes a way of life. We strive for the “perfect” garden. “You should have been here last week, my garden was in its prime” is an appropriate sign for most gardens. Maintenance is always a concern. No


one requests more maintenance. Change is the most difficult thing to accomplish and the most enlightening. Over centuries our gardening styles have changed. Garden (Paradise in Persian) use to be the term to describe large estates


57


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100