Subject: Re: Russian Olives for birds
From: "gypsy on endor" <gypsy@endor.com>
Organization: http://extra.newsguy.com
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 98 15:14:36
Message-ID: <MOD$980710.19662@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$980624.13287@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$980626.16426@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$980626.2767@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$980626.14369@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$980630.26433@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



In article <MOD$980630.26433@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, "Nick LaRocca"
wrote:

>
>
>
>CJ wrote in article
><MOD$980626.14369@rec.gardens.ecosystems>...
>>
>> I just want to let you know what I've
>> learned about Russian olive bushes though... in the past, and still now
>in
>> some places, people do plant that shrub and others like multiflora rose
>for
>> the benefit of wildlife.
>
>In the past, before people realized the impact, these shrubs were actually
>recommended by conservation and wildlife organizations, both public and
>private. Realize that we're not talking that long ago, perhaps 20 or 25
>years past. These were the recognized experts back then, and there were not
>any contrary views being presented at the time. So many of the current
>plantings stem from that era.
>
>Our personal experience with pest plants has been variable.
>
>When the soil was still open, we did encounter a lot of Eleagnus seedlings,
>but now hardly any. Multiflora rose is a continuing pest, though.
>
>Also on the pest list is Morrow honeysuckle, another recommended
>"conservation" shrub from the old days. OTOH, our variety of L. tartarica
>has never produced a seedling. It must be a sterile selection.
>
i have a HUGE Lonicera morrowii and it's NEVER produced seedlings
either...but i'd say that's because the birdies line up to eat the
berries!!!

btw...talking about "experts from the past"...i could not believe, when only
3 yrs. ago, the "master gardeners" of sl, ut (postal designation for salt
lake, ut) planted Eleagnus trees ALL OVER the new golf course, which, for
some unknown reason, is directly below the flight path for the (ahem)
international airport.

and then, too, when the master gardeners of phoenix (az) recommended
Eleagnus trees be planted in the run-off ditches by roadside!! what's going
on here??? QUICK!!! somebody lobotomise those master gardeners!!!

p.s. russian olives produce the most delicate and exquisite perfume in
june...the french loved it enough to make an expensive parfum from them!!

>
>--
>Nick - NJ - Zone 7a
>
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