Yes, it is an interesting article. Especially as I read it as a break from pulling exotic weeds. Not sure what I think. While he may have some valid points, I can't just not be concerned about invasive exotics when I see the destruction around me. No one in my area would have a yard without battling the honeysuckle. Wisteria is covering trees. That Princess tree is everywhere. And on and on. What's you opinion, Susan?

Shelley

My opinion? That he's right. That nature doesn't care where she scatters her seeds - we are the ones who care whether a trillium or an English ivy takes root in our soil. Our feelings of beauty and of wonder about native habitats are chosen out of an asthetic appreciation of unusual forms of nature. It is, it seems, a very similar feeling to that which made the old Brits collect seeds from very far away - native plants have become exotic to us.

Another point in this discussion: In the most recent Fine Gardening, there was a short article about the difference between "aggressive" and "invasive" - the idea being that bamboo is a pest when you can't get it out of your yard, but it won't colonize a local nature preserve like gooseneck loosestrife will. You sound like you're battling aggressive and invasive plants, and I applaud you for it. But when we battle the reaching grasp of the wilderness, we're doing what every human civilization does - trying to clear a little plot of land for growing what we love.