A kilt accessory for the yard

[gilmore]

I was at the local nursery yesterday looking at trees
and I spotted a Rowen (European Mt. Ash)
which happens to be the plant badge of Clan Muir, My Clan
needless to say I bought it and it is now the first tree that I've planted in the back yard of my new home
not a bad start

Has anyone else planted their clan's plant badge?

I planted driftwood in the front yard, but it isn't flourishing.

[gilmore]

If you are thinking of planting your clan plant in your yard, please, please, please take into account any possible disruptions in your local ecosystem that might be caused by an invasive exotic.

Back in the 19th century two brothers in Boston decided that it would be a good thing to release every bird mentioned in Shakespeare so that we uncultured Americans would have the benefit of familiarity with these literary references. One of these species of birds was the starling. Since then, as many of you know only too well, they have flourished, displaced native species and gathering in huge flocks that copiously rain watery fecal matter on everything below them.

Here in the eastern US, most native deer were exterminated a century ago or more. State departments of natural resources have introduced (and often continue to introduce) white tail deer for hunting, that not only eat so much vegetation that they displace native animals, but are thriving to the point that in many areas crops and even fenced in gardens aren't safe. In fact, I am told by a friend in the Sierra Club that they are the animal responsible for more human deaths in the US than any other by far, since they cause so many traffic accidents.

If you happen to drive along the coastal highway south of San Francisco, you will see pampas grass from Argentina and fennel bushes everywhere, with more and more every year, edging out native plants.

In the American South about 100 years ago, some one decided that planting kudzu from Japan would be a swell idea to prevent erosion as well as for feed for cattle. It wasn't.

Ecalyptus trees from Australia with their leaves that poison the other vegetation around them are taking over parts of California and northern India.

In many American suburbs liriope, English ivy, privet, bamboo and other exotics are creating monocultures in vast areas.

The list could go on and on and on, but I am sure you get the idea. Because something was available in the area of Scotland where one's ancestors lived a few centuries ago and had historical significance then, it does not necessarily follow that it's a good idea to plant it where you live today.

[English Bloke]

A very valid point. Your American Crayfish with their big nippy pincers are not doing our weedy British ones any favours either. I wonder what one of those would look like in my bonnet.

Not to mention the <expletive deleted> Grey Squirrels. You can turn ALL those into sporrans for me...

[gilmore]

...
Not to mention the <expletive deleted> Grey Squirrels. You can turn ALL those into sporrans for me...

How ironic. Some one introduced black squirrels from, I believe, Germany into suburban Washington, DC, in Maryland, where they are displacing the indigenous gray squirrels, driving them out and taking over their habitats.

[Geoff Withnell]

How ironic. Some one introduced black squirrels from, I believe, Germany into suburban Washington, DC, in Maryland, where they are displacing the indigenous gray squirrels, driving them out and taking over their habitats.

Hmm, hadn't heard that. I live in Gaithersberg, part of the Maryland suburbs of DC. I have approximately 27,000 gray squirrels living in the park across the street. I saw a black squirrel yesterday, and I just assumed the fellow had somehow wandered down from Mid-Michigan, were I found them to be ubiquitous.

Geoff Withnell

[BoldHighlander]

How ironic. Some one introduced black squirrels from, I believe, Germany into suburban Washington, DC, in Maryland, where they are displacing the indigenous gray squirrels, driving them out and taking over their habitats.

In the last 7 or 8 years we've had the black squirrel displacing the grey around Whatcom County (Washington) at a rapid rate. The original story was that they were released here to boost the squirrel population. I've since heard that they are actually "invading" from Canada

I'm not sure what to believe.

[JS Sanders]

Mountain ash is native to the US goes by the scientific name Sorbus americana . It is planted as an ornamental shrub/tree throughout the country.

The rowan tree, Sorbus aucuparia, is found throughout a great deal of Europe and to my knowledge is not used as an ornamental here.

Nurserys may portray the mountain ash as a rowan tree, but most likely it's the American species. I suppose one could check with the USDA for confirmation.

Slainte yall,
steve

[McMurdo]

In the last 7 or 8 years we've had the black squirrel displacing the grey around Whatcom County (Washington) at a rapid rate. The original story was that they were released here to boost the squirrel population. I've since heard that they are actually "invading" from Canada

I'm not sure what to believe.

That may well be as we have, as far as my observations go anyway, a plethora of black squirrels and not nearly as many gray in Toronto anyway.

[starbkjrus]

That may well be as we have, as far as my observations go anyway, a plethora of black squirrels and not nearly as many gray in Toronto anyway.

I can say the same for Windsor. The first time I saw a black squirrel I wondered if I had wandered into Mirkwood.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled plant badge thread.

[gilmore]

Hmm, hadn't heard that. I live in Gaithersberg, part of the Maryland suburbs of DC. I have approximately 27,000 gray squirrels living in the park across the street. I saw a black squirrel yesterday, and I just assumed the fellow had somehow wandered down from Mid-Michigan, were I found them to be ubiquitous.

Geoff Withnell

I have seen them mostly in Bethesda, MD.