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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2019)
Wallowa.com Wednesday, June 12, 2019 B3 WALLOWA COUNTY C H I E F TA I N CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT Petunias are a favorite and off er no threat as an invasive. Bleeding hearts are non-invasive natives that have a huge number of brightly-colored varieties. Ninebark is a native shrub that has been transformed into a red-leafed ornamental that appeals to many garden- ers. Yarrow is a plain white native. It’s available also in multiple colors that are happy to stay pretty much where you plant them. Photos Ellen Morris Bishop GOING NATIVE Be sure those garden plants are not invasives! By Ellen Morris Bishop Wallowa County Chieftain F or anyone who is even mildly aware of plants, the term “inva- sive species” can raise hack- les. To farmers, ranchers and backcountry affecianodes, most invasive species are an anathema. So it’s curi- ous that the seeds and bulbs of plants that seem to harbor nothing but malice are still freely available, especially if you order up fragrant and attractive plants from a dis- tant on-line source. This is actually the way that many invasive spe- cies fi rst got their tendrils into our landscape. Dalma- tian toadfl ax—a perennial scourge of rangelands— was imported and sold by nurseries because it has lovely yellow fl owers. Its puffy, golden blooms some- times enrapture hikers who don’t know that it is a per- nicious invader. Purple loosestrife, another alien from Europe, bears lovely blossoms. It also replaces wetland plant s like cattails and equisetum, leaving an ecological moonscape that offers poor shelter and little habitat for waterfowl and other marsh denizens. The list of malicious invaders imported and distributed by well-meaning garden- ers (and even conserva- tionists) is long. Scotch Broom, gorse, Russian olive, leafy spurge, English Ivy, kudzu, Chinese wiste- ria, Japanese honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed, Reed canary grass, and the list goes on. In 1999 the U.S. Department of agriculture was given the authority to regulate interstate move- ment of federal noxious weeds’ seeds and rootstock, including both herbaceous and woody species. How- ever, given the vast number actual and potential inva- sive species, mail-order and internet nurseries may not check or list to see whether a plant is listed as—or could be—invasive where the person ordering it lives. In a paper published in the jour- nal BioScience, research- ers Sarah Hayden and Peer White found that 82 percent of invasive woody species in the U.S. had been intro- duced as ornamental or other nursery stock. About 60 percent of all invasive plant species in Australian were intentionally intro- duced for horticulture. Does this mean that you can plant only natives, and probably non-showy ones at that? No. But it does suggest that gardeners should double check the nature and possi- ble local or regional inva- sive status of non-natives that they order through cat- alogues or online. Checking the species (that long Latin name) of what you want to plant in your garden against the specifi c name of the invasive relative is a good plan. For example, there are a number of spurge plants, Now might be a good time to have your insurance reviewed! all in the family Euphor- biaceae. The evil invasives are leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula,) and its cousin Myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsin- ite.s) While some of their spurge-like cousins like to spread, they are not consid- ered invasives. Yet. The same can be said of many other the very attrac- tive and fragrant ornamen- tal plants. The best solution is to cultivate a good relationship with a local nursery, and buy your seeds and plants there. You will be supporting local business. And you will be far less likely to be introduc- ing invasive plants to your neighbors and county. There are lots of interest- ing plants that are cultivars or newly developed variet- ies of natives. For example, native ninebark has a broad green leaf and sports a tight cluster of perky white fl ow- ers. But Terry Bates, of Wal- lowa County Nursery in Enterprise offers ninebark shrubs with deep red leaves and pinkish fl owers. It’s safe to grow. “I can’t keep it in stock,” B a t e s said. Other natives that might not seem showy year-round offer ecological ben- efi ts. Several years ago, bates brought some start- ers of milkweed plants – essential to Monarch butter- fl ies--home from a nursery in Walla Walla. He planted them, and they now occupy a large portion of his front dis- play area. “I’d be happy to share them with anyone who wants some,” he said. The stout plants offer a unique border—and also produce very unique blossoms. Local nurseries that can help you fi nd non-invasive plants adapted to Wallowa County include: • The Flower Peddler Nursery, 71845 Dougherty Loop Road, Wallowa (541) 886-7474 • Alder Slope Nursery, 64934 Alder Slope Road, Enterprise (541) 426-3317 • Wallowa county Nurs- ery, 118 Fish Hatchery Lane, Enterprise (541) 426-8733. FRESH CONCRETE ON DEMAND! Now with two trucks to better serve our customers! Our concrete delivery solution offers a unique system providing small yardage concrete delivery. Our mobile mixers save time, money, and makes clean-up a snap! Call Greg at 541-263-0250 Serving Homeowners & Contractors HERE TO HELP WITH ALL YOUR SUMMER PROJECTS ! Come by and check it out! Mini Excavator • Man Lifts • Rototillers • Lawn Aerator Lawn Thatcher • Sod Cutter • Post Hole Auger • Ditch Witch • Floor Sanders Generators • Jack Hammers • Trailers Call us today for an appointment! 616 W. North St. Enterprise OR. 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