Talking Native Plants
Interview edited by Therese Ciesinski, In The Dirt Newsletter editor
Photos courtesy of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Andrea DeLong Amaya has a job any gardener would envy. She is the Director of Horticulture at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. She manages the gardens at the center. Down to earth and passionate about what she does, she’s especially enthusiastic about showing people how to use native plants in the planned landscape. We talked about how to choose the right natives, the flowering plant group that grows anywhere in the country, and we kicked to the curb the biggest misconception about native plants.
TC: What is the first thing to consider when deciding to add natives to your garden?
ADA: Before you decide on any plants, ask yourself: What do I want to achieve by using native plants? Why am I using them? Is it for food, to support pollinators, create a diverse habitat for wildlife, restore your site’s environment, to have a beautiful garden? There are plants that fit every one of those purposes.
The next thing is to analyze your landscape. Be sure you know where the sunny places and the shady places are, and the makeup of your soil. And what the temperatures and weather patterns are in the different seasons. Knowing as much as possible about your site will help you choose the plants that will thrive there.
TC: What comes next?
ADA: The fun part – deciding on the plants. I recommend that before buying, people go out and look at plants and learn about the ones that do well in their area. Walk around the natural areas where you live and see what’s growing. And look at what is growing naturally together. What are the patterns that nature makes?
And learn about them. Remember, you are asking: what do I need these native plants to do? Read books, go to local garden centers and ask questions, check our Native Plants Database, even hire a horticulturist if you’re planning a big project and your budget allows it.
Start with a plan on paper, or make a list. Finally, get the plants. Move them around before planting them. Play with scale, size, and shape.
And remember, just because you’re using native plants doesn’t mean you have to have a naturalistic garden. You can use natives in any style of garden, formal, relaxed, symmetrical, asymmetrical, whatever.
TC: What about the complaint that native plants are weedy and messy?
ADA: Just because native plants are tough doesn’t mean they don’t require some maintenance. You can’t plant them and walk away. Like any other plant, they need to be maintained.
TC: With GardenSMART newsletter readers all over the country, can you recommend a native plant that will grow pretty much anywhere?
ADA: The Helianthus genus – the sunflowers – is found all over the country. No matter where you live, you can find one or more that will likely work in your garden. As long as there’s sun, of course!
The mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to conserve, restore and create healthy landscapes. Learn more at www.wildflower.org.
Interview edited by Therese Ciesinski, In The Dirt Newsletter editor
Photos courtesy of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Andrea DeLong Amaya has a job any gardener would envy. She is the Director of Horticulture at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. She manages the gardens at the center. Down to earth and passionate about what she does, she’s especially enthusiastic about showing people how to use native plants in the planned landscape. We talked about how to choose the right natives, the flowering plant group that grows anywhere in the country, and we kicked to the curb the biggest misconception about native plants.
TC: What is the first thing to consider when deciding to add natives to your garden?
ADA: Before you decide on any plants, ask yourself: What do I want to achieve by using native plants? Why am I using them? Is it for food, to support pollinators, create a diverse habitat for wildlife, restore your site’s environment, to have a beautiful garden? There are plants that fit every one of those purposes.
The next thing is to analyze your landscape. Be sure you know where the sunny places and the shady places are, and the makeup of your soil. And what the temperatures and weather patterns are in the different seasons. Knowing as much as possible about your site will help you choose the plants that will thrive there.
TC: What comes next?
ADA: The fun part – deciding on the plants. I recommend that before buying, people go out and look at plants and learn about the ones that do well in their area. Walk around the natural areas where you live and see what’s growing. And look at what is growing naturally together. What are the patterns that nature makes?
And learn about them. Remember, you are asking: what do I need these native plants to do? Read books, go to local garden centers and ask questions, check our Native Plants Database, even hire a horticulturist if you’re planning a big project and your budget allows it.
Start with a plan on paper, or make a list. Finally, get the plants. Move them around before planting them. Play with scale, size, and shape.
And remember, just because you’re using native plants doesn’t mean you have to have a naturalistic garden. You can use natives in any style of garden, formal, relaxed, symmetrical, asymmetrical, whatever.
TC: What about the complaint that native plants are weedy and messy?
ADA: Just because native plants are tough doesn’t mean they don’t require some maintenance. You can’t plant them and walk away. Like any other plant, they need to be maintained.
TC: With GardenSMART newsletter readers all over the country, can you recommend a native plant that will grow pretty much anywhere?
ADA: The Helianthus genus – the sunflowers – is found all over the country. No matter where you live, you can find one or more that will likely work in your garden. As long as there’s sun, of course!
The mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to conserve, restore and create healthy landscapes. Learn more at www.wildflower.org.
[size=undefined]All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
Article URL:
http://www.GardenSMART.com/?p=articles&title=Talking_Native_Plants[/size]
Article URL:
http://www.GardenSMART.com/?p=articles&title=Talking_Native_Plants[/size]
Yesterday at 7:49 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers exempts the Gulf Interconnection Authority from guarantee fees: it is a gov
Yesterday at 7:48 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government raises the size of the 2024 budget, and Parliament is “surprised”
Yesterday at 7:46 am by Rocky
» Popular Movement: We have many economic options away from American hegemony
Yesterday at 7:42 am by Rocky
» The Oil Parliament stresses the need to transfer part of the revenues to the producing governorates
Yesterday at 7:41 am by Rocky
» It will cover 14 regions in eastern Iraq.. A deputy reveals the “border electricity” project
Yesterday at 7:40 am by Rocky
» Experts Warn Mass Migration Threatens US Food Security
Yesterday at 7:37 am by Bama Diva
» Al-Fateh: America occupies Iraq through agreements
Yesterday at 7:37 am by Rocky
» Anger in Iraq over a "sudden decision"... and a reminder of a "general strike" that paralyzed the co
Yesterday at 7:34 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee: Parliament is discussing today a decision that “disturbed” the Iraqis
Yesterday at 7:33 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Electricity: Our production will reach 27 thousand megawatts by May
Yesterday at 7:31 am by Rocky
» Diagnosing the “most important” problems in the oil file between Baghdad and Erbil.. What is the rel
Yesterday at 7:30 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Fiqh Academy and the Sunni Endowment issue a fatwa to pay Zakat al-Fitr
Yesterday at 7:28 am by Rocky
» The National Bank of Iraq continues its digital transformation by launching its new banking system a
Yesterday at 7:26 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Investment and the Central Bank are discussing the housing initiative
Yesterday at 7:25 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister announces the restart of 500 suspended projects
Yesterday at 7:23 am by Rocky
» Al-Barti assesses the region's employees: Your salaries are insured and will be paid after resettlem
Yesterday at 7:21 am by Rocky
» Iraqi-American discussions in anticipation of the Sudanese visit
Yesterday at 7:20 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Turkey hold meetings in Ankara to discuss technical issues related to the development road
Yesterday at 7:17 am by Rocky
» A government parliamentary agreement to support budget revenues and governorate allocations for inve
Yesterday at 7:16 am by Rocky
» Oil: The gas sector is witnessing great development
Yesterday at 7:15 am by Rocky
» A Kurdish-French agreement to develop trade and economic relations
Yesterday at 7:13 am by Rocky
» Exchange companies in Mosul demand that they be entered into the currency selling window
Yesterday at 7:12 am by Rocky
» Minister of Finance to the Czech Ambassador: Iraq enjoys a more attractive business environment and
Yesterday at 7:10 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Britain sign an agreement in the field of the stock market
Yesterday at 7:08 am by Rocky
» A new parliamentary meeting with the Minister of Finance to discuss these files
Yesterday at 7:07 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary committee discusses these files with the Director of the Projects Department in the
Yesterday at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Central Bank sales exceed $257 million today
Yesterday at 7:05 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance and the Minister of Planning discuss governorate allocations and investment bu
Yesterday at 7:04 am by Rocky
» Planning: We are discussing with representatives of the World Bank the work plan of the Social Fund
Yesterday at 7:02 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary meeting with the Governor of the Central Bank and the Director of the Real Estate Bank
Yesterday at 7:01 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: The 2024 budget reached 228 trillion dinars
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Barzani "gives good news" to Kurdistan's employees: salaries, land, and loan exemptions
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Economy: The decision to raise fuel prices targets this class
Yesterday at 6:54 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic: Iraq is an important investment environment
Yesterday at 6:53 am by Rocky
» From the accounts of Saddam's Republican Guard... Iraq returns approximately 7 billion dinars to the
Yesterday at 6:52 am by Rocky
» Al-Abadi: Muqtada al-Sadr did not leave politics.. He reached a dead end
Yesterday at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Nassif: The leaders of the framework abandoned Al-Sudani because of his recent successes
Yesterday at 6:48 am by Rocky
» Baghdad stresses the continued danger of ISIS and the importance of Washington's efforts to combat i
Yesterday at 6:47 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Oil: It is necessary to transfer part of the revenues to the oil-producing governorate
Yesterday at 6:45 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese government zeroes in on the legacy of its predecessors
Yesterday at 5:28 am by Rocky
» The Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation Law is ready for its second reading
Yesterday at 5:26 am by Rocky
» 1,500 active civil organizations in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:25 am by Rocky
» The position of Speaker of Parliament awaits decision
Yesterday at 5:23 am by Rocky
» Water for peace...the water crisis in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:21 am by Rocky
» Fiscal and monetary policies succeed in undermining the parallel dollar
Yesterday at 5:20 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan.. Attempts to circumvent the "Federal" decision and an invitation to the Baghdad governmen
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» “Iraq warned the US Treasury to leave the dollar.” Parliamentary Finance: The exchange rate will con
Yesterday at 5:16 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government issues new decisions
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» Barzani: We will not give up our constitutional rights, and tomorrow we will take a decision that is
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» A researcher in political and security affairs describes the decision to increase the price of gasol
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers addresses the Finance Ministry to appoint the families of those who died du
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» 100 thousand dinars as a “Eid gift” for retirees.. A parliamentary request before the Sudanese (docu
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani confirms that more than 490 projects have been moved and returned to work in record time
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Parliament reveals three facts about the decision to raise the price of fuel: It targeted “luxury” w
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» In detail...the problems of the oil file between Baghdad and Erbil
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» International skepticism about Iraqi agriculture... Modern irrigation succeeds, but it will not be e
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» For those who love traveling by the Iraqi train... buy the ticket with your mobile phone and 50 new
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Regional and international challenges hinder the path of the Iraqi economy towards stability
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» A severe educational crisis threatens Iraqi children with a “bleak future”
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Investing in Iraq's natural wealth is a step towards economic integration
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Revealing the advantages of the “Hasabe” project: It is safe and provides great services to employee
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Iraq seeks to strengthen its air defenses.. All eyes turn to South Korea
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Residents of Souq Al-Shuyoukh and Al-Fahd renew their demand for the dismissal of officials and hold
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» The government's mood swings turn employees' dreams into nightmares of additional taxes and collecti
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Deputy: Al-Sudani will raise the issue of lifting sanctions against Iraqi banks in Washington
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Kurdish MP: The Shiite authority wants to restore the central system to Iraq
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» A Kurdish leader attacks the Federal Court: it is unconstitutional and its decisions are against the
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Talabani Party: Al-Halbousi poses a danger to himself and not just his opponents
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Deputy: The rule of law is trying to return Al-Maliki to power
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Barzani accuses parties of trying to pave the way for the elimination of the region
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» BRICS adopts a payment system that is not linked to the dollar
Yesterday at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Tax Authority: Fines imposed on colleges reach one billion dollars
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Sanad: Washington is blackmailing Baghdad with dollars, and the Sudanese government must end the san
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance hosts the Minister of Planning to end the crisis in disbursing governorates’ d
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Service effort: The housing crisis in Iraq is disastrous
Yesterday at 4:37 am by Rocky
» A deputy accuses the director of ports: He wasted 20 trillion dinars and exceeded the authorities
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Including raising the price of gasoline and working hours... the full decisions of the Prime Ministe
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Nassif reveals the files that will be presented when the Roads Director comes to Parliament
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Protests and suspension of work... Kurdistan employees await the completion of resettlement procedur
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» The Iraq Recovery Fund returns approximately (7) billion dinars
Yesterday at 4:28 am by Rocky
» About 6,000 civil organizations have registered in Iraq.. What about the effectiveness on the ground
Yesterday at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Registering 80,000 private companies under the new retirement and social security law
Yesterday at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Iraq refuses to approve the construction of the Turkish Jazra Dam on the Tigris River Basin
Yesterday at 4:24 am by Rocky
» With the presence of Iraq... a list of countries most vulnerable to water shortages by 2050
Yesterday at 4:23 am by Rocky
» utube 3/25/24 MM&C IQD Update - Iraqi Dinar - Al-Sudani - Faud Hussein - Taif Sami - Iraq's Ex
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:19 am by Rocky
» Despite Sudanese directives, government banks are continuing to adopt a “fixed rate” on loans
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:15 am by Rocky
» Stability of dollar prices against the dinar in Baghdad and Erbil
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:14 am by Rocky
» SWIFT is working on creating a digital currency platform for central banks
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:13 am by Rocky
» Parliament is in the process of amending the People with Disabilities and Special Needs Law, and the
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:12 am by Rocky
» Iraq praises Turkey's "serious" interaction with the development road project
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:10 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Education approves the names of supervisors of the Creativity, Challenge, Peace and
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:08 am by Rocky
» Losses for most Gulf markets with the expiration of eligibility for cash dividends
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:06 am by Rocky
» Government source: All government banks adopted the simple decreasing interest method instead of fix
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:05 am by Rocky
» Justice clarifies the mechanism for requesting real estate bonds via the Ur platform
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:03 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: We are putting pressure on the government to approve a new fair salary scale
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:02 am by Rocky
» International Organization for Migration: Iraqi agriculture has suffered from a recession
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:01 am by Rocky
» Central Bank: Inflation drops to 4%
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 5:00 am by Rocky
» Transportation: Reducing flight prices with the advent of Eid al-Fitr
Tue 26 Mar 2024, 4:59 am by Rocky