
The distinctively-colored leaves of the Hydrangeas
aspera ‘Plum Passion.’
By Bob Gilbert
Currently, there is a trend among gardeners to lean toward adding only native plants to their collections and landscapes. Of course, this is not a bad idea, but it can be considered limiting. I once was at a garden club meeting and someone said to me “I am new at gardening, do not know much except that I am only going to grow native plants.” These thoughts are re-enforced daily by roadside examples of invasiveness, Kudzu, Japanese Honeysuckle, Privet, Nandina and others. These plants were introduced a long time ago and had not been thoroughly tested and evaluated. And, some of these nonnatives brought with them insects and diseases that have no natural controls in their new locations. (more…)

by Shon Cameron
By Bob Gilbert

