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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2009)
At Home with Native Plants Garden tour on Mother’s Day BY KRISTA HARPER W Native Plant Nursery Create new landscapes & gardens this spring with our great selection of native plants We offer design services & consulting 484-9206 By Appt. 83331 JACKSON MARLOW RD. • EUGENE www.doakcreeknursery.com BRUCE NEWHOUSE hile some gardeners worry about keeping their grass green, others are working to make their yards greener in an entirely different sense – by purposefully gardening with native plants. Mieko Aoki, the chair of Eugene’s Native Gardening Awareness Program (NGAP), says that native plants require less watering, fertilizer and pesticides than non-native plants, making them more environmentally friendly. Non-native plants, some of which were introduced for gardening, require more care and can disrupt the natural ecosystem. Some of these non- native plants rapidly spread outside their gardens, becoming invasive species that endanger native plants by taking over what would normally be the native plants’ terrain. Gardening with native plants avoids these issues.Though the benefi ts of gardening with native plants are many, Aoki says, the increase in local wildlife prompted by native plant gardening is the main motivation for most gardeners. “There are certain relationships between plants and insects that can’t be replicated,” she says. Aoki adds that native plants encourage butterfl ies and other insects to settle, which in turn provide food for native birds and other local species (see the sidebar for a list of native plants that attract butterfl ies). Animals and insects that have struggled for survival in traditional yards fl ourish in yards fi lled with native plants, she says. Intrigued? You’re in luck. On Mother’s Day, May 10, NGAP is offering free tours of 12 native plant gardens in Eugene – eight private and four public. Participants will have the opportunity to ask NGAP volunteers questions about the animals and plants on site and about the how-tos of native plant gardening.The gardens on the tour feature mixtures of local annuals and perennials, shrubs and trees, Aoki Doak Creek says. Some of the yards are planted almost entirely with native species, while others demonstrate successful mixes of native and non-native fl ora. Some local plants popular in the gardens include Oregon Sunshine, Red Flowering Currant and Checker Mallow. Hummingbirds, butterfl ies and other wildlife may be visible as well.The private gardens will be open between noon and 5 pm on May 10, and tours of all the gardens will only be offered during those hours. Visitors can tour as few or as many gardens as they would like within that time. Participants are encouraged to walk, bike or carpool. Interested gardeners can also check out NGAP’s wildfl ower sale at Mt. Pisgah the following weekend. Private gardens on the tour: 2525 Potter St.; 2755 Potter St.; 270 E. 36th Ave; 875 W. 26th Ave.; 2261 Jefferson St.; 2160 Lawrence St.; 952 W. 4th Ave; 1491 W. 5th Ave. Public gardens offering NGAP tours: West University Park, 14th Ave. and Hilyard St.; UO Natural and Cultural History Museum, 1680 E. 15th Ave.; Hendricks Park Native Plant Garden. top of Summit Ave.; Butterfl y Garden at Amazon Community Gardens. 28th Ave. and High St. For more information, visit www.emeraldnpso.org ew Denali Diary Clean Climbing on North America’s Highest Mountain by Tim Verkler Diary + 67 color photos of a 60 day adventure in the Alaskan wilderness. Available at: Amazon.com, The Duck Store, J. Michael’s Books, McKenzie Outfi tters, & Tsunami Books www.denalidiary.com Just Say No to the Butterfl y Bush In the Nesting issue on March 26, I wrote that the butterfl y bush was a good bush to attract butterfl ies. True, but it didn’t take too long for the corrections to roll in. Kyle Spinks of the Tualatin Hills Parks and Rec Department (they read the EW?) wrote to say that the butterfl y bush is on the Oregon State Noxious Weed list. He added, “The primary reason is due to its ability to easily self-seed, especially in disturbed soils, such as along streams and roadways.” Other plants he suggested in its place: Safer Products. Safer for the Enviromnment Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) : Herb up to 7’ tall with numerous pinkish-lavender fl owers per spike. Good in sunny sites, but may spread. • • Meadow sidalcea (Sidalcea campestris) : Herb up to 3’ tall with lavender fl owers. Good in wetter meadows. • Douglas spirea (Spiraea douglasii) : Shrub up to 7’ tall with dense pinkish fl ower spikes. Good in wetter to moderately dry sites. Orange/trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa) : Vine with clusters of trumpet- shaped fl owers. Not aggressive and likes shade. Does well on an arbor. • Mockorange (Philadelphus lewisii) : Shrub up to 10’ tall with single, large white fl owers. Nice aroma and does well in partly shady upland sites. 2825 Willamette 342-5191 He also suggested contacting the Xerces Society in Portland for more info. That nonprofi t’s website is www.xerces.org and you can contact them at 503- 232-6639. Thanks to Spinks and all who called! —Suzi Steff en Mon-Sat: 8:30-5:30 | Sun: 10-5 • WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM mvDB EUGENE WEEKLY APRIL 16, 2009 13
