Rant: That 'native plants only' guy at the garden club last week

Went to the local botany meetup at the library on Tuesday, and this one dude in a tweed vest spent the whole hour lecturing anyone who mentioned a petunia or a marigold. He kept saying non-natives are 'ecological invaders' like we're all ruining the planet for having a few annuals in a pot. Look, I get that natives are important, but my mom's had the same rose bush for 40 years and it's not hurting anyone. Has anyone else run into these gatekeeper types who act like you're a criminal for planting something pretty?

2 comments

2 Comments

logan63225d ago

Man, I used to be one of those guys honestly. I was all about ripping out anything that wasn't from here, but then my neighbor's old lilac bush died and I saw how much the local bugs actually used it compared to some plain lawn. It made me realize there's a middle ground. You think most folks are just trying to do their best or is it really that simple?

robert_rodriguez6625d ago

Honestly, I think people get way too wound up about this stuff. Yeah, native plants are great and all, but one guy with a petunia pot isn't going to topple the ecosystem. Tbh, half the time these 'ecological invaders' arguments feel more like a purity test than actual science. I mean, my grandma's been growing lavender for decades and the bees still love it. Ngl, it's annoying when someone acts like you're committing a crime for just wanting a pretty flower. Some folks just need a hobby that isn't judging other people's gardens.