Garden News and Notes for December 2001
Contents:
- In the News
- New Plants and Products News
- New and Useful Books
- Fun Reads: Fiction and Humor
IN THE NEWS
IRRADIATION THREAT DIMINISHED
After all the uproar about anthrax and irradiation of seed and plant orders - and partially because of that uproar - your orders are probably safe. The US Post Office is not using the irradiation equipment they purchased from Ion Technology, nor do they plan to use it.
While irradiation proceeds in a facility on Long Island it is only the mail normally handled by the two post offices that received contaminated mail. Post Office workers found that it takes a full minute to irradiate a single letter-sized envelope - and after that one-minute three letters ignited, taking 90 additional pounds of mail with them.
The Post Office has concluded that irradiation is not cost-effective, nor is it practical and are seeking alternative ways to protect us.
APHIS AND NEW IMPORT/EXPORT REGULATIONS FOR PLANTS AND SEEDS An official in the USDA-APHIS import-export policy section today said that small seed packets from Canada will likely come into the U.S. "the same way that they are now." He explained that he expects that packets will not require any new documentation, and that they will continue to come into the U.S. unimpeded -- at least from Canada.
The US is considering two alternatives to provide this exemption to Canada: change the regulations to exempt Canada, or alternatively, give instructions to border staff not to enforce the Phytosanitary certificate requirements against Canada. Either way, Canada can continue to export seed to US with only minor adjustments for seed of non-Canadian and non- US origin.(1% of exports).
MOST POPULAR PLANTS: According to a survey conducted by GM-Pro the best selling plants of 2001 were Petunias - followed by geraniums and then impatiens. It appears that impatiens is slipping from its long-held number 1 position. And you can see the best selling varieties of perennials at Green Beam. No surprises here, with the number one sellers being Echinacea 'Magnus' and Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' - which just goes to show how valuable being named the Perennial Plant Association's plant of the year can be. The table at the above link should give you a good idea of what plants will be most easily found at your garden centers this year.
NEW PLANT AND PRODUCT NEWS
UNCERTAIN OF HOW TO SPELL A PLANT BOTANICAL NAME? You can check individual names free at The Botanical Society of America.
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