tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post938509122208899219..comments2024-03-15T01:29:50.279-07:00Comments on Town Mouse and Country Mouse: Going Native - The View from Inside, and OutsideTown Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09777461911856383480noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-12167725504590580072012-04-30T17:11:16.683-07:002012-04-30T17:11:16.683-07:00Congratulations on the upcoming shift to full-time...Congratulations on the upcoming shift to full-time advocacy. You're managing to get the word out already, but the extra time should be energizing, even if it will end up being endless hours devoted to "fluff." (Actually I'm sure all of us reading this far are sold on the importance of the work you're about to jump into even deeper!) In conversations I had at yesterday's garden tour I heard ecological concerns, concerns over water use, concerns about suburban blandness, concerns about connecting better with nature--all great ways to keep the conversation going. But I was talking to the converted. How do you begin the conversations with those who aren't thinking these thoughts? That for me is the challenge.Jameshttp://soenyun.com/Blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-43864397942404440702012-04-30T16:18:40.925-07:002012-04-30T16:18:40.925-07:00I noticed a dichotomy in the 10 gardens I went and...I noticed a dichotomy in the 10 gardens I went and visited on Sunday during the tour. I didn't visit any terribly established gardens this time. The tiniest, simplest of them all appealed to us the most. Two others had some planning involved, but many others looked like -shade, shade plant goes here, sun, sun-loving plant goes here, ok done-. Native gardens are great, but the ease comes only after the garden is established. Sprinklers must be moved/turned to drip, etc. CA native plants are sometimes slow growing, and some people can tolerate sparse planting until it fills in and others over plant and then forget to thin out and potentially give away specimens that aren't fitting their evolving plan. Others are afraid of failure, as TownMouse pointed out, and dead plants. I am struggling to find suggestions for native plants that can tolerate a lot of wind, as I've moved somewhere with a yard that my neighbors confirm is a bit of a wind tunnel all year long, you find butterfly lists but not windy-conditions lists, I'm worried about mulch and overeasy seeders, etc. But as we walked through gardens that seemed somewhat uninspired this year compared to others, garden design is marketing for native plants. If the native garden is the most attractive- or at least as attractive- as the block, it's a feature. If it's just whatever, wherever, it isn't selling the native idea over more traditional planting-- it has to be cooler than, like Sigg and Kleen Kanteen and the popularity of refilling your own water bottle. I certainly don't think you need a landscape designer to get design, some of the gardens we were in and out of in a hurry were landscaped. But a native garden with a good sense of design makes you go "WOW" about the affect of the garden on you as you walk through it, vs. individual "oh, isn't that plant interesting" comments. For the record, you rodent writers, having seen both your gardens, you fall in the wow category. If I could have a sun room to enjoy my garden from as you do, Town Mouse, I'd really be in heaven.PamelaTrounstinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281828709146058626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-35666947607333063642012-04-29T19:20:19.714-07:002012-04-29T19:20:19.714-07:00I think the mental work involved is a huge issue f...I think the mental work involved is a huge issue for many--hence the gravel yards more people are turning to here in Albuquerque rather than lawn. For many of us it takes a long time to learn what will grow and what size it gets and how it looks with other plants, and that means a great many disappointments and failures. Those of us who enjoy the process keep going, but those who want something DONE that they can...well, forget about, might not find the detective work quite so appealing.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08297253093260251145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-33224871551421354532012-04-27T20:25:51.914-07:002012-04-27T20:25:51.914-07:00I would not want to make dogmatic statements - I t...I would not want to make dogmatic statements - I think lawns are nice for kids to play on, for sports, and so on. We live in a Mediterranean climate zone that is not friendly to traditional lawns such as we had in the UK. But there are native grasses that can make interesting rough or lumpy lawns, and some new grass mixes that do better here.Country Mousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13294472166693008328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-2715619686346956702012-04-27T18:01:07.461-07:002012-04-27T18:01:07.461-07:00So many points of view. Mine is colored by the big...So many points of view. Mine is colored by the big rattlesnake (six rattles) killed here day before yesterday when he came calling too near.<br /><br />Near the house we have closely clipped grass, unfertilized and unsprayed but easy to see something with a pattern, crawling.Jean Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09000315400392984647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-78266832576654147482012-04-27T07:45:01.778-07:002012-04-27T07:45:01.778-07:00At the dentist, the assistant said she is no good ...At the dentist, the assistant said she is no good at gardening - because she planted wild flower seeds in a pot for her child, and nothing happened. I remember too being hopeless and helpless. There feels like a big chasm between nothing and something when it comes to any type of gardening. Thanks for the suggestion about microcosm for desert dweller. I went there myself just now and enjoyed a fine post. Mary, good to hear from a fellow techie-turned-garden writer!I look forward to reading your blog/other writings - but right now - the techie world calls...Country Mousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13294472166693008328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-26022000167175076772012-04-27T07:11:35.380-07:002012-04-27T07:11:35.380-07:00I was a technical writer in my previous life. Now...I was a technical writer in my previous life. Now I am a garden writer writing mostly about Michigan/Midwest natives. Were we separated at birth?Going Nativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05856208193172387761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-23068871841853720842012-04-26T20:15:16.245-07:002012-04-26T20:15:16.245-07:00I think the other problem is that people take it p...I think the other problem is that people take it personal when plants die. Isn't supposed to happen. Especially natives. <br /><br />Well, plants die all the time. It's just what they do, and if you consider how much hardscaping costs, a little money for replacing plants is nothing. Gotta plan a post around that....<br /><br />Town MouseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-10596481894715812272012-04-26T13:42:43.573-07:002012-04-26T13:42:43.573-07:00Wonder if Desert Dweller reads Microcosm in the Q?...Wonder if Desert Dweller reads Microcosm in the Q? She is as passionate about her native plants as the rest of us are.Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497277770771473008.post-59597042521757674202012-04-26T09:55:47.793-07:002012-04-26T09:55:47.793-07:00So glad I met both of you "mice" at Rebe...So glad I met both of you "mice" at Rebecca Sweet's garden last month! Not to mention find your blog. <br /><br />You bring up many important things...we into native plants do have a serious marketing issue, plus designs that appeal to the simplicity of some, plant suppliers, etc.<br /><br />Could be worse...try Albuquerque, where the above, plus no interest in outdoor living or design exists, with countless hours with weather perfect for it. <br /><br />I can't wait to read more here!Desert Dwellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00952727692048782529noreply@blogger.com