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> I sort of disagree with the article though. I think one should actually take a relatively hardline approach to planting only native plants. Just because you h

> I sort of disagree with the article though. I think one should actually take a relatively hardline approach to planting only native plants. Just because you have a lot of activity around a plant doesn't mean it's the right activity. You could be attracting non-regional and non-native species which is generating the activity. I disagree. Native plants are great, but so are tomatoes or some bell and habanero peppers. You're projecting your personal opinions on what makes a garden good. To some, a good garden is defined by its native-plant biodiversity. To others, it's getting fresh herbs for salads at dinner. To others it is something else. It's not an either-or thing. You can plant many things and reap varying benefits.

djtriptych 4y ago
Is it fair to call it personal opinion if it's also the ecologist consensus viewpoint?
- RHSeeger 4y ago
  Of course. To some people, that viewpoint is what defines it as good. For others, it's beauty. For others, it's pure diversity. For others, it's minimizing the work involved. The choice of what is considered "good" here is a very personal thing.
  - djtriptych 4y ago
    Still, it's dismissive to place it into a class of personal opinion, when the colloquial understanding, especially here, is that there is no expectation of evidence behind it. I think a fairer term here is 'argument'.
- wcarron 4y ago
  The other comment covered my thoughts mostly. Ecology is important. But I can't eat Blackfoot daisy. Not all gardens are there for ecosystem health. Some are for utilitarian purposes.
bmitc 4y ago
I was distinguishing plants from crops. I think it's perfectly fine to be growing non-native vegetables and fruits that you'd like to eat or sell.
- wcarron 4y ago
  Ah, gotcha. Makes sense.
  - bmitc 4y ago
    Your points were good though! I haven't yet started gardening for fruits and vegetables but would like to at some point.
    - SirLJ 4y ago
      With edibles is getting tricky because everyone is eating everything… sometimes just one bite from a nice big tomato enough to ruin it…. Best to plant a lot to have for you, or plan for the ugly nettings and enclosures…. One thing that usually works are cherry tomatoes enough for you and the critters….
    - wcarron 4y ago
      Same for you! Interestingly, contrary to you, my wife and I only ever gardened for produce. Didn't turn out that well with poor soil and drainage, but we tried. Wishing we had the space for it again at our current residence. And, of course, I'd actually like to have more space dedicated to native plants and biodiversity. I love bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Even small areas of 'nature' (if you can call specifically cultivated areas nature) really improve the enjoyment and charm of a living space.
- nonethewiser 4y ago
  They have the same downsides you identified for plants.
KaiserPro 4y ago
If the majority of your plants are native, a few non-native isn't going to hurt, assuming that they are well controlled. Where they can be useful is that they often bloom at different times, or provide food at the start or end of the season, not furnished by native plants. This can be really useful for supporting a wider range of species, especially with the seasons expanding/compressing.

djtriptych 4y ago

Is it fair to call it personal opinion if it's also the ecologist consensus viewpoint?

RHSeeger 4y ago
Of course. To some people, that viewpoint is what defines it as good. For others, it's beauty. For others, it's pure diversity. For others, it's minimizing the work involved. The choice of what is considered "good" here is a very personal thing.
- djtriptych 4y ago
  Still, it's dismissive to place it into a class of personal opinion, when the colloquial understanding, especially here, is that there is no expectation of evidence behind it. I think a fairer term here is 'argument'.
wcarron 4y ago
The other comment covered my thoughts mostly. Ecology is important. But I can't eat Blackfoot daisy. Not all gardens are there for ecosystem health. Some are for utilitarian purposes.

bmitc 4y ago

I was distinguishing plants from crops. I think it's perfectly fine to be growing non-native vegetables and fruits that you'd like to eat or sell.

wcarron 4y ago
Ah, gotcha. Makes sense.
- bmitc 4y ago
  Your points were good though! I haven't yet started gardening for fruits and vegetables but would like to at some point.
  - SirLJ 4y ago
    With edibles is getting tricky because everyone is eating everything… sometimes just one bite from a nice big tomato enough to ruin it…. Best to plant a lot to have for you, or plan for the ugly nettings and enclosures…. One thing that usually works are cherry tomatoes enough for you and the critters….
  - wcarron 4y ago
    Same for you! Interestingly, contrary to you, my wife and I only ever gardened for produce. Didn't turn out that well with poor soil and drainage, but we tried. Wishing we had the space for it again at our current residence. And, of course, I'd actually like to have more space dedicated to native plants and biodiversity. I love bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Even small areas of 'nature' (if you can call specifically cultivated areas nature) really improve the enjoyment and charm of a living space.
nonethewiser 4y ago
They have the same downsides you identified for plants.

KaiserPro 4y ago

If the majority of your plants are native, a few non-native isn't going to hurt, assuming that they are well controlled. Where they can be useful is that they often bloom at different times, or provide food at the start or end of the season, not furnished by native plants. This can be really useful for supporting a wider range of species, especially with the seasons expanding/compressing.