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Click here to download the "It's Easy Being Green" bookmark (pictured at left):
Articles FGCCT President's Project: 2007-2009 The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut have been protectors of the environment since it was founded. Club members have sponsored recycling, weeded invasive plants, organized litter removal from towns and highways, planted butterfly gardens, educated the public, sponsored open space and the list goes on and on. We have done a good job but recent reports on global warming and our dependence on foreign oil makes our President’s Project current and important. We are asking each club to look over their past, and current environment projects. Do they need a little ‘dusting off’? Set an environmental goal for your club. Each person in each club can make a positive difference. Working together it will be so easy to be green. This space in our NEWS will be used to share projects clubs have found successful in their towns or communities. Let us see, read and hear what your club is doing on this very important topic by E-mail, telephone (203-416-1795) or mail (6 Taunton Hill Road, Newtown, Ct 06470). Each club that participates will be recognized at the annual Awards Luncheon. Remember, it’s so easy being green. CHANGE The six-letter word that has always been part of our vocabulary has entered our lives in a ‘big’ way this past year and that word is Change. Your may question, what the word change has to do with the environment? The answer is everything. One of the first noticeable changes was the increase in the cost of crude oil. That change affected the lifestyle of most every American. We changed our way of using the automobile, embraced mass transit and now the ‘green’ automobile is in demand. Small changes, such as reusable carryall bags instead of the thin plastic disposal ones, or the change from incandescent light bulbs to compact florescent light bulbs has had significant energy savings. With the economy on a downward spiral the small changes we make to protect our environment is economical as well. A lifestyle change that is environmental friendly and good for the health of the family is growing your own fruits and vegetables. If a vegetable garden does not fit in your lifestyle, locate a Farmer’s Market. This is quite a change from the perfect fruits and vegetables that are transported from around the world to the local super market. Planting native plants is another change that is easy and makes good sense. It is logical that plants that are native to our part of New England would be more resistant to weather, insects and disease than non-native plants. Another change is the term “green collar jobs” which refers to any position that deals with the environment. Wind Farms also is a new term that we may add to our environmental vocabulary. Global warming is now referred to as Climate change. Change requires some thought. The results of thoughtful change can be brilliant. State and National Project Chair What is an invasive plant? When a non-native plant is introduced into a new habitat and becomes an ecological threat is called an invasive. The Butterfly bush species from Asia and Central America are popular ornamental plants widely used to attract butterflies. There are more that one hundred species of Buddleja worldwide and additional cultivars are being developed. Buddleja species are currently found throughout the eastern, southern and western states. Butterfly bush can easily escape from plantings and become invasive in a variety of natural habitats such as coastal forest edges, roadsides and abandoned railroads, rural dumps, stream and riverbanks and some disturbed habitats. Buddleja displaces native plants. Seed that is produced in abundance and dispersed by the wind. To prevent and control the buddleja, cut off fading flowers on isolated ornamental shrubs before seeds are formed and hand weed young plants. Seeds are produced in abundance and are spread by the wind. To achieve total removal, it is best to ensure a rapid ground cover of a non – invasive species, which will prevent the butterfly bush from re-establishing. Perhaps a native alternative might be a better choice. You could choose butterfly weed-ascelepias tuberosa, sweet pepperbush clethra alnifolia, Virginia sweetspire itea virginica, blazing star liateris spicata or New York ironweed vernonia noveboracensis. Another invasive shrub that you may find in your landscape is the Winged Burning Bush euonymus alata. This is a favorite of many landscapers. They are easy to grow, and are readily found in most nurseries. It was introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant for landscaping beginning about 1860. It is desired by homeowners for its fall color, dark green leaves, winged stems and other characteristics. It is found from New England to northern Florida and the Gulf Coast. It threatens a variety of habitats including forests, costal scrublands and prairies where it forms dense thickets displacing many native species. Hundreds of seedlings are often found beneath the parent plant in what is termed a ‘seed shadow’. To prevent it, never plant it and if you already the owner of this shrub remove it and hand pull the seedlings. There are many other invasive shrubs but one that is well known to most gardeners is the Japanese Barberry berberis thunbergii. I will not dwell on its history, my personal experience with this invasive is long, and as I look into a wooded area from my window the only under story that I see is the Japanese Barberry, We thought we had conquered them last spring. It is spread by its beautiful red berries. What do we do to rid our landscape of invasive shrubs? Do not plant them and remove them by hand or safe chemicals. It is very important to educate your town, neighbors and friends of the damage these plants cause. State and National Project Chair |
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