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David Epstein: We are here today with Tom Smarr at the New England Wild Flower Society. Lot of people these days are getting into native plants. The big question would be a couple, one would be why and two is how hard is it if I want to do this in my house. I want to be good, but this is going to take a lot effort than it is to do other things.
Tom Smarr: Gardening with native plant is a really nice way of incorporating the environment that is surrounding us. This plants have connections to the over all ecosystem with the wild life, the animals and the insects and the soil life cycle.
David Epstein: Tell me about what native means?
Tom Smarr: Native is a term that can be defined on many different levels. I can talk about native plants that are specifically native to the metro West region of Boston. I can also talk about native being State of Massachusetts or New England. I can also talk about native plants as native to United States or North America. Here at the Garden in the Woods and the Framingham, we work in native plants that are native to all across United States.
David Epstein: I have something’s in my garden which I know they are from China. Is that—I mean should go reap that out?
Tom Smarr: We are not advocating that aspect. We are encouraging native plants to be use in the garden as one of the choices but there are many beautiful exotic plants that can be planted in the garden. I will not advocate planting those plants out in nature. They disrupt the natures natural cycles and also, you have to be aware and careful of planting plants that are, what do you call this exotic invasive plants. These are plants that are damaging our natural environment and cost billion of dollars every year by Governments and private organizations to eradicate these plants to protect their natural flower.
David Epstein: Is our nursery doing anything, in order to get involved to help this out?
Tom Smarr: In doing all of the society, along with many local nurseries and State organizations met and talked about these issues and actually pout pass legislation and that is now being in active in Massachusetts.
David Epstein: If I am not a real expert, our native plants easier to grow in my garden?
Tom Smarr: You have to make sure you put them in an appropriate location. But, you are going to find this plants in a more durable in our winters that are going to be able to stand sort of temperature and weather fluctuation. So, a native plant is a really nice way to start out if you are looking at gardening.
David Epstein: Thanks Tom.
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