
Squirrels are annoying. I do not care that gray squirrels are native, or that their ancestors were here before mine. They are still annoying. They ruin bulbs, seedlings, fruits, nuts and vegetables. Although I do nothing to exclude them from my garden, I do not want them there.
Some native vegetation is also annoying. It grows like weeds where I want other vegetation to grow. Like for squirrels, I do not care if it is native. It is still annoying, and I do not want it trying to infest my garden where I grow vegetation that I want to grow.
I have been told that native species can not be invasive merely because it was here before I was. That is completely false. If it aggressively invades my garden, then it is invasive. Claiming otherwise is comparable to claiming that I can move into any home here that I choose simply because I am native.
Everyone who lives here inhabits space that was formerly occupied by native flora and fauna. So does all the infrastructure. Anyone who disapproves should leave, and relocate to where they do not occupy space that was formerly occupied by native species. I do not know where that is, but perhaps they do.
Realistically, I do my part. I live very simply, in compact and minimally consumptive homes. Although I enjoy gardening, I do not use much more space than is necessary to sustain my simple lifestyle. I do not live so simply because I would feel guilty about living more lavishly. I do so because it appeals to me, and allows me to feel less sheltered from the same sort of nature that some might accuse me of being inadequately protective of. Ultimately, nature does what it wants to here, with or without my assistance.
I love this, Tony and couldn’t agree more. The native plant continuum is almost as annoying as the squirrels.
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Also, those who want to plant trees EVERYWHERE! I live in an area that is naturally chaparral. I happen to like trees, but there are more here now than there ever was naturally (and almost all are exotic). They need more water than they can get naturally. We are supposed to be using less water, not more.
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I never imagined certain groups would be so adamant about their ideas, but they sure are including the native plant folks. As for squirrels, I could be a happy woman if they all headed to another county and maybe took a few deer, turkeys and ground hogs with them. 🙂
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Oh, goodness yes! As a horticulturist, I am expected to agree with all of them, which I do not. I happen to like trees, and have enjoyed planting many in the Los Angeles Region, but people are shocked or even offended if I remind them that Los Angeles is naturally a chaparral or desert, so the abundance of trees that is there now is very unnatural.
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