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QUESTION: Why does so-called "natural landscaping" <br /> appear to be unkept to me? <br /> ANSWER: Some persons consider the native landscape, <br /> except when in a wilderness area, unkept in <br /> appearance. Possibly this is due to the lack <br /> of familiarity with individual plants and <br /> native plant community processes. Once you <br /> know why plants grow the way .they do, you may <br /> not judge then first by looks. The appear- <br /> ance of tidiness may be increased by - the <br /> techniques discussed -in the later section on <br /> transitions. Also, anything that doesn't <br /> grow in a row and has to be replanted each <br /> year is considered a weed by many.. <br /> QUESTION: Will I be introducing plant harming insects <br /> and diseases into my yard? <br /> ANSWER: In the Madison area there are no diseases <br /> except oak wilt, dutch elm disease and but- <br /> ternut canker which .adversely affect healthy <br /> native plants. on an epidemic scale. Some <br /> afflictions, such as' black knot and tent <br /> caterpiller can become botherersome in or- <br /> chards and vegetable gardens . It is an <br /> individual decision as to whether these are <br /> negative factors. For the most part, native <br /> plants are resistant to most disease infesta- <br /> tions - they may be temporarily defoliated or <br /> attacked but will be back the next year since <br /> they have evolved together with the native <br /> insects. The health of a natural community <br /> does not necessarily mean that there is an <br /> absence of disease. For example, shelter and <br /> food are provided for some birds as plants <br /> get old and die. Of course, the scale on <br /> which this is tolerated by us depends on the <br /> size of both our planting site and on our <br /> budget. <br /> 9 <br />