Garden columnists usually give reliable advice with few discrepancies. Each have their own take on a particular subject or situation and rarely bad advice is given. This is one such case relating to palms and exotics gardening in the Nanaimo area. The following is an excerpt from a local weekly newspaper article and respected nursery owners. " the date palms that are native to northern California over-winter here if they are protected by a screen on four sides to prevent wind burn damage." Wow! (go ahead, re-read the peice again) First error was telling the reader that date palms are native to northern California. Secondly, that they can be over-wintered here with a four sided screen. Some people accually believe or put faith in what they read. This is one case that would be a failure for any gardener trying this within 500 miles of here. One final excerpt from the same article, "The only plants that are suitable for bringing indoors have to be kept in the shade outdoors all of the time." Cheers, LPN.
I constantly encounter false statements and bad advice in gardening columns, newsletters, magazines, nurseries (both on signs and out of the mouths of clerks), web sites and books. I've remarked to others that if it's half as bad in other fields, we're in trouble. Consistent response is that it is as bad in other fields.
Same here, I see all sorts of false and inaccurate statements all over the place in gardening topics. Even such things as junipers and thujas being called cedars when they are manifestly unrelated (in different families!), and so on . . . high time that botanical education was improved to remedy the situation!
