Dear Wayne You are right when you describe your dream of integrating ecology and landscape architecture as difficult to achieve. I offered the extension programs as one avenue among many available for those who want to try to make a difference. I understand your skepticism as my educational background is botany and ecology, not horticulture. (Yet, I also love raising my own vegetables hence the master gardener training.) Convincing new Las Vegas residents that they need to learn new landscaping concepts appropriate for the desert is a major portion of the work performed by the local Master Gardeners. The new residents move to the desert for the dry heat and sunshine, yet they still want their Kentucky bluegrass lawns and azaleas. Maybe ecologists need to be less adamant that plants in urban settings should be allowed to follow an unimpeded, natural life path. If a home owner in the Southwestern desert area plants a Larrea tridentata and keeps that Larrea pruned to 1 meter high, will that plant use more water that a Larrea allowed to naturally grow to 2 meters in height? I don't know, but I will argue that better a Larrea planted in that yard than a euonymus. Regarding landscape architects that look at site-specific species before consulting the nursery catalogs, are you familiar with the work being done at the Springs Preserve (www.springspreserve.org)? They are promoting use of Mojave Desert species and green building. Thank you for your interesting and informative response. Colleen
Wayne Tyson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Colleen Grant (certified Master Gardener but on 6-months leave from Southern Nevada Master Gardeners) I quite agree that a gentle approach needs to be used with "home" gardeners. In fact, I have long dreamt of the day when ecosystem restoration principles could be integrated into at least some parts of landscaping and gardening (not to mention integrated farming). I have, for example, shown people how to restore functioning indigenous (self-sufficient) ecosystems onto their roofs, landfills, subdivisions, pipeline row's, and roadway cuts, and am presently helping a landscape architect to transform most of a residential project to a self-sufficient complex of indigenous species, and, if we are lucky, a fully-functioning ecosystem. It is quite a challenge, however, to be "gentle" ENOUGH with folks who already "know" gardening and landscaping. The trouble is, those paradigms do not fit those of ecosystems. I have worked with native plant societies--folks DEDICATED to native plants, who LOVE native plants with a purple passion. Yet still they cling to the gardening paradigms, and are unwilling or unable to apply real ecology to their gardens. They simply can't believe that native plants can live without their care, much less believe that their "care" works strongly against ecosystem processes, that things like cultivation, irrigation, fertilization, and other "maintenance" are inimical to ecosystem processes. Nor will they accept any suggestion that Nature should do the "selecting" rather than themselves, even when exposed to concepts like modifying an indigenous ecosystem to suit their needs. The "use" of native plants idea has been around for at least a century, and has even gone through some pretty impressive fad periods (the nineteen-teens, twenties, and thirties), but the idea of one choosing individual plants that happen to meet one's fancy rather than those that are congruent with habitat conditions and organisms with which they have co-evolved has not caught on. 'Tis a pity, because if such a concept were only considered, the gardeners would find many pleasant surprises by giving Nature an opportunity to strut her stuff. If you suggest to most landscape architects, for example, that they follow the discipline that they FIRST consider whether or not a site-indigenous species will perform up to their own project requirements (this could be number seven on my SUSTAINABLE SITES INITIATIVE list) before they resort to nursery catalogs and gardening books, they will ignore you. NOTE: I would like to compile a list of landscape architects who do or will endorse and follow that one simple discipline--please help by sending me their names and addresses. Impatience and unfamiliarity seem to be the primary obstacles to this level of understanding, and the programs you describe are likely to help. But after 100 years or so of "using" native plants in gardens, I am not extra-hopeful that my dream of integrating ecology and landscape architecture beyond hyperbole will be achieved until the wells run dry, and perhaps not even then. But good luck with it anyway! WT At 03:12 PM 12/16/2007, Colleen Grant wrote: >In urban areas across the country (United States), County Extension >offices are actively working with landscapers to promote greater use >of native plants. Sometimes classes and seminars devoted solely to >the topic are held, more often the information is integrated into >presentations on pruning or irrigation. An ecologist willing to >share his/her knowledge about native plants (with a gentle approach) >would be welcomed as a valuable resource. > > A good way to reach the average home owner is through the Master > Gardener programs available is all fifty states (United > States). Master Gardeners answer help phone lines and have > information booths with booklets and pamphlets at home shows, > county fairs, and at plant sales. MGs also teach short classes to > the general public at places such as public libraries, garden club > meetings, landscaping seminars and public parks. Master Gardener > programs are always associated with a land grant university so most > of the literature dispensed is peer-reviewed and all the literature > is research-based. > Ecologists could help by teaching a short seminar (1-2 hours) to > Master Gardeners, by being the guest speaker at a monthly meeting > or co-authoring literature that will be dispensed to landscapers > and the general public. Does this stimulate any other ideas on how > you could help? If you think you can make a contribution through > this venue, please contact the local County Extension Office and > ask to speak with the Master Gardener Coordinator > > Colleen Grant > (certified Master Gardener but on 6-months leave from Southern > Nevada Master Gardeners)
