Please keep plantings native this season
This year, with Earth Day and Arbor Day back to back, more folks may consider planting a tree, or other plant, in honor of both days. For everyone who does, consider planting only native trees and plants.
Planting non-native trees, plants and shrubs, all too often, brings in diseases which can spread far and wide to our native vegetation. Instead, go native and make a point of only planting native trees and plants. Because they are adapted to this area, native trees and plants also handle drought years (and this one is a major one) better than non-native ones do.
When it comes to pets, the same plan holds. It is much better to not buy exotic animals, which too can carry diseases that can spread to our native animal populations. If such exotic pets were to escape or be set loose then they, like their invasive plant counterparts such as kudzu, can take over native habitats or even become pests themselves for either animals or plants.
So please, in honor of both Earth Day and Arbor Day, go native in your plantings (and pettings) this year and from now on.
Will Lance
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