CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 06/03/02

In Love With Plants, Helping the Economy

I went there with my wife, and I can't say anything about her purchases, because I made many of my own. It wasn't as if we didn't have 20 or so plants in pots waiting to be planted. We just decided we needed a certain gardenia for a pot by the front door.

But our shopping trip made it crystal clear that we don't buy plants out of need. We buy them because they look good, the flower color is right, the shape and size fit the spot.

The Main Motivation

The main motivation is simple: "I don't have it and I've always wanted one." That was the reason for the 17 cultivars of hydrangeas I bought.

Now, this is not bad altogether. Buying plants keeps nurseries in business. You know -- that economy thing.

This obsession with plants is the same many women have with shoes, men have with "new toys" and teenagers have with CD's. Of course, you don't have to water, fertilize, prune and otherwise maintain the shoes, toys and CD's.

Plants become a part of the family. We had "Willie Begonia" (the children named him) for 13 years before he succumbed.

We Baby Plants

We baby plants, tend to them and even cover them with quilts and blankets on cold nights. I can't tell you how many times I've covered "the big bay" bush on cold nights. Sometimes after getting in bed I was reminded, and I put on my overcoat and trudged out to keep it one more season. It's still with us.

How many people have taken the rinse water from dishes out to water that certain plant during dry periods? If you perform this type of action, you have the plant disease.

Just because you really fall in love with plants doesn't mean you have to like all of them, though. Viburnums always look unhappy to me and are not among my favorites.

The Viburnum People

I'm sure the viburnum people wouldn't like the sweet potatoes I'm so fond of or the black bamboo in my yard. My wife isn't fond of that, either.

Still, whether they're green, purple, pink, brown, deciduous, evergreen, annual, perennial, vegetable, fruit, ornamental, large- or small-flowered, fragrant, tall, short, pruned or free-formed, they're all loved by someone. Each has its own passionate following, its own organization devoted to it.

Out of the diversity of the plant kingdom, please find one you like and become as attached to it as you wish.

You're just helping the economy.

Wayne McLaurin is a professor emeritus of horticulture with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Wayne J. McLaurin
SLF2 CAES News
Spotting trouble: How Georgians can help combat spotted lanternfly 12/24/24 Emily Cabrera
Native to several Asian countries, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania, likely arriving via imported goods. Since its arrival, the pest has spread to 15 states in the Eastern U.S., now including Georgia. While they do not bite or sting humans or animals, University of Georgia experts stress that early detection, prevention strategies and timely interventions are crucial to minimizing the spread and impact of this pest on a variety of plants.
Top research stories of 2024 CAES News
Top UGA research stories of 2024 12/23/24 Olivia Randall
As the new year approaches, it’s time to reflect on 2024, a year full of exciting research achievements at the University of Georgia. UGA researchers have made their marks examining crucial topics like the health of water resources and urban infrastructure in the face of climate change, the causes of higher suicide rates among young Black men, and an alarming trend in rates of Type 2 diabetes, among other groundbreaking work. Let’s take a closer look at 12 of the most impactful stories of the past year.
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.