The Importance of Indigenous Planting

Plants are the foundation of any ecosystem, no matter where in the world it is located. All animal life, including birds, insects, lizards, and mammals are inextricably linked to their native environment and depend on its perfect balance for survival.

It's no wonder that not only animal wildlife is diminishing, but also problems with soil erosion, weed intrusion to detriment of other plantlife, and insect infestation are running rampant in mankind's constant destructive path of deforestation, mining, farming, building, and quarrying.
Even if we would stop development globally today,the environmental chaos already brought on by our destruction is leading to more destruction without us. We hear of the wood boring beetles throughout areas of North America and Canada, destroying acre upon acre of pine trees.

Since the emergence of civilization thousands of years ago, the land has been constantly modified by people. Much of clearing and cultivation has been carried out with little knowledge or attention to the long-term consequences. Sprawling continues to be a common problem when planning communities, because new homes are planned to operate in isolation of one another and of the larger area they occupy and impact such as neighboring forest and farmland.

We must think and plan carefully to combat the enormous problems of habitat loss as nations, states and provinces, local communities, and citizens.
If we want to save our native ecosystems, we must first proactively establish and re-establish our native plants in areas large enough to be sustainable to all life, including humans. We must also guard areas where natural ecosystems still exist at any cost, since these will be the resources from which we can network our native flora and fauna to weave throughout our urban and suburban cities, towns, and rural regions.

How can our modern landscape be made both more beautiful, yet a more functional environment? We need to encourage a trend of more people consciously growing indigenous plants in their own gardens and work towards re-introducing natural ecosystems into home gardens.
Replanting is already taking place with mixtures of native trees on properties and their boundaries, along roadsides and creeks, and on wasteland. We just need to do more of the same, and be creative in our own yards.

Using indigenous plants wherever possible not only improves the ecological cohesion and function, but it should give us a sense of regional and national pride and place exclusive to our land. This must be the core planning model for landscape architects and designers,local councils,and private citizens.

Each country's landscape and its plants are different from those of other countries, and we must make more effort to keep it that way. In countries where tourism and outdoor recreation are an integral part of the economy, indigenous ecosystems attract their business.
Plants that are native to their specific region are tougher, usually require less water and can survive without cultivation. They are naturally adapted to the soils and climate of their region. They resist invasive weeds and insect pests that would otherwise threaten the ecosystem. This plantlife attracts the native wildlife which has a balanced predatory sytem, keeping destructive vermin out of the area.

Although they may co-exist nicely, plants introduced from non-native areas should be carefully evaluated before placing them in the local ecosystem. If not correctly selected, introduced plants may demand more water, more fertilizer, and can become environmental weeds as they leach precious resources from the environment that other organisms need to survive. Plants such as these may take over a region and become costly to remove.

In order to grow a more sustainable garden or environment, you will have to do some research of your local area. Most nurseries have a very limited stock of native plants and sometimes none at all. Engaging your local nursery owner in your interest in growing indigenous plants and requesting a source may help.

Colleges and Universities which have horticultural curricula and teach landscape design should have an emphasis on preserving our native landscape and ecosystems using native plants. Consulting with these and publications on the subject may help you in your planning.

Growing indigenous plants creates a more appropriate biological diversity. When planning your urban or rural garden, although imported plants are often popular and available consider blending some plants indigenous to your area.

Mimosa Blooms Its Feathery Flowers

These beautiful cottony blooms are of a Mimosa tree not far from my house. Sadly, the fifty-year-old Mimosa tree in my yard had to be cut down last year after it was struck by lightning. I really miss viewing these fanciful tufts of pink and white from my kitchen window.

The Mimosa, formally named Albizia julibrissin, is really a member of the pea family (Fabaceae), although it was imported from Japan to North America first in 1745 for its ornamental qualities.
Like other plants that are relocated as non-native within our indigenous flora, care must be taken to provide a lot of space around the Mimosa. It has a tendency to crowd out other plants and competes with indigenous plants, often choking them out in areas that have been disturbed by construction or highway routes. When it performs invasively, it will actually create thickets which are undesirable.

Given proper placement and care, the Mimosa grows from a trumpet like trunk and spreads out on top like a canopy with delicate compound leaves that are almost fern-like and provide wonderful shade in addition to its flowering display of wispy blooms that appear in late June to July. Wonderfully fragrant, the nectar from the flowers also attracts hummingbirds and bees.

Mimosas can bloom throughout the summer, it replaces its quickly whithering blooms with new ones readily. The seeds form at the base of the flower after it has whithered and look like a cluster of peas, true to its lineage. Keep an eye out for some varieties that have deeper almost red blooms, and others, usually wild whose blossoms are almost pure white.

The Peace Lily: Easy Indoor Flowering Plant

Do you have some trouble keeping your indoor plants looking healthy, or
even alive? You are not alone. Many indoor plants are of tropical or non
-local origin. This can pose a problem in some indoor climates that we
control with air conditioning in the summer which robs the air of
humidity (thankfully for human comfort) and with heat in the winter which
also dries the air and decreases the humidity.

Many plants thrive not only on the water and nutrients in the soil, but
also by drawing humidity from the surrounding air. Plants return this
their energy to us in the form of oxygen that they release back into the
air as they absorb carbon dioxide, the waste product of respiration of
many non-plant life forms including humans.

This symbiotic relationship between plants and other forms of life is
essential to our existence. When we cultivate plants in our home, we need
to provide them with their essential nutrients. Even though conditions
are not ideal indoors for all plants, some are extremely hardy, easy to
care for, and make great indoor plants that clean the air of toxins and
provide beauty.

The Peace Lily, pictured to the right, formally known as Spathiphyllum,
is an easy to grow tropical large rubbery green leaves and a long stemmed
white blossom that has an amazing stamen in the middle. These plants
prefer low light which makes them ideal for a bedroom or corner.
I have had the Peace Lily pictured for about four months and it has done
very well in my livingroom. I water it once to twice per week, usually
only once is sufficient. It likes moist soil but not soggy. Just don't
allow the soil to dry out completely and it should be fine. The indoor
temperature should stay between 62-80 degrees F (17-27 degrees C). Keep
it way from drafts such as doorways or air vents.

My Peace Lily flowers consistently, shedding the previous flower every
time it forms a new one. It has been one of my most easy to care for
plants with the most beautiful display. I purchased this one at a
supermarket for only $11. It is more than four feet tall and was a
bargain for a plant of its size. Check for sales of tropical plants in
your local area, you may find them at discount stores.

Irises: An Amazing Flower

Irises are one of my favorite flowers, first, because they are easy to grow and maintain in our Northeast climate. They are perennial bulbs, but with so many varieties, you can have irises blooming in your garden from early spring to early summer.

Although irises are most commonly grown in gardens, there are also irises found in the wild and naturally occurring hybrids of the pallida and variegata forms.
The most common irises are usually some shade of purple, such as the bearded German Iris. Keep your eyes open at nurseries and catalogs however, as each year new hybridizations are developed and Irises are showing up in colors from pink to yellow to even red, which is the hardest color to attain. Some varieties boast a visual explosion of several colors in the same bloom.

Planting Iris bulbs is most ideal in September and October, but the bulbs can be very tuberous and spread every year. They should be thinned out to avoid overcrowing and the trimmed bulbs/tubers can be easily replanted to another bed. They are great to give to neighbors and friends to start their own beds.

The earliest blooming irises are generally the dwarf variety which emerge in March April and May. The taller varieties follow in May and June, however, my tall purple beauties emerged prolifically this past April and were a delight through the middle of May.
Planting several varieties that bloom sequentially will provide a longer enjoyment of the beauty and variety of these amazing flowers year after year.

Welcome to Deep in Flowers

If I have to be deep in something, it might as well be flowers! They offer joy, peace comfort, and a constant reminder of both the beauty and fragile temporal nature of all life.

Flowers have become a hobby and an interest to me in recent years as I have been more physically challenged and stay closer to home, where I have found much consolation and meditation in gardening.

I hope to post my experiences as well as useful information as I blog about this wonderful subject. I hope to attract those who will also share their experiences and helpful hints with me.

This year I have been successful in planting some flowering shrubs and perennials, including a clipping of foxglove and trumpet vine that I received from a friend who was born in Sri Lanka and has her home in the USA like a tropical paradise! I have much to learn from her, she actually rescues plants in distress and they become so beautiful in her home. She is especially talented with orchids of many species. I never knew that orchids like humidity and actually absorb it through their roots often in the absence of soil. She has a sunroom where she controls the humidity to be perfect for her orchids.

My favorite spring annuals, mounds and mounds of pansies, have done very well this year in both my garden and all their pots. However the hotter weather is getting to them and they are becoming stringy, even with heading them daily. I will probably repalce them with some marigolds I have waiting.