GoGardenNews - Items of gardening and ecological interest

Rachel Carson was an American hero. In the early 1960s, she was the first to warn that a pesticide called DDT could accumulate in the environment, the first to show that it could harm fish, birds, and other wildlife, the first to warn that its overuse would render it ineffective, and the first to predict that more natural means of pest control – like bacteria that killed mosquito larvae – should be used instead.

Unfortunately, the PBS documentary neglected to mention that in her groundbreaking book, Silent Spring, Carson had made one critical mistake – and it cost millions of people their lives.

We've adjusted our program to allow you to purchase any number of plants above the minimum quantity allowed.

In an undated article from MyMcClallumCounty.com, "Your backyard bird bath or feeder may be inadvertently sickening songbirds. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says there have been surging reports of sick or dead birds at backyard feeders in parts of western Washington."

As of February 1, 2021, we will no longer offer plants in small numbers. The minimum purchase for plants in 3-1/2 inch pots will be no fewer than 25 per species. Plants in 2-1/2 inch pots will be sold in minimums of 54. Most bare root plants will be sold in bundles of 50. However, Astilbe, Campsis, Convallaria, bare root ferns, Hemerocallis (daylilies) and Iris will be sold in bundles of 25.

Pathogens can become resistant to chemical treatments. Repeated use of the same fungicide eventually results in a chemical resistant pathogen that becomes very difficult to treat.