h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

They sound fascinating, Willem. Like so many interesting species, though, it would take publicizing their plight to the few people who will go out of their way to help.

What causes us to rally around a species? There are *so many* troubled animals out there that it's hard to choose one. Even Monarch butterflies, at just a hundred million population, are sinking fast -- down from almost a billion twenty years ago. Well, to help them you need to be somewhere along their migration paths, and willing to plant some milkweed in your yard -- there are numerous milkweed species available, in many different blossom colors.

I'm causing topic drift, but there are so many choices to make, and only so much time and energy available.

I'm making my own choices according to what I can do best. I'm sending the word out on these endangered species by writing the column … in real life I'm working hard to conserve several rare plant species, by cultivating them.

Same here. I've discovered that Whorled Milkweed is endangered in my state.I have three seedlings on order. I will plant them in whatever part of my yard gets some sunlight.

As luck would have it, they only get about two feet tall, though they can spread from the roots aggressively. The flowers are white, which works well in my landscaping plans.

I'm also trying to grow Blue Cohosh, which is uncommon. It's also not thriving much. Virginia Waterleaf is doing better (it thrives near Sugar maples, Ash, and beech trees). I have a good spot for it, and it's blooming now, a good sign.

I would love to grow Ladyslippers as well, but the best environment for them would b e under white pine trees. I do have a white pine tree, but it's only two inches tall. I will wait for it to get taller.

Sounds like good stuff! I'm going to look those plants up. Hope the tree grows so you can get to those ladyslippers!

I confess that the crowning gory of my backyard garden is a Virginia Rose. I planted it about a month ago, and it has looked great ever since. It is forming some nice buds, so I can count on pink blossoms and eventually rose hips. So far, so good.

The downside is that Virginia Rose can get to be six feet tall and six feet wide. It won't do that right away, but it would be best to mark off some boundaries so it doesn't overwhelm everything else in the garden. One option would be some equivalent of a bamboo control barrier.
http://www.bamboogarden.com/barrier.htm

Or, I could dig four trenches circumscribing a square around the rose, 18 inches to a side, and putting in those half-log edging segments
http://www.amazon.com/Greenes-Fence-Half-Edging-Pack/dp/B01JJCWNBS?ref_=Oct_MWishedForC_3480672011_2&pf_rd_r=QYW804HSSX9NF9YM5X8D&pf_rd_p=2abddd7f-2d23-5a7a-9776-103208cb0487&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=3480672011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER.

Some people just draw a line and periodically push a shovel into the ground to cut whatever roots have gotten too far out from the trunk.

To sum up: I love the plant. It seems to be doing really well where it is, and it's getting the right amount of sun, and is healthy enough to bloom.If it ain't broke, don't fix it, but give it some boundaries while it's still a manageable size.

(I think about things way to much. <blush)