[MAIPC] Fwd: harmful milkweed from Home Depot

[Kathryn Peterson-Lambert]

Milkweed - neonic- Nicotine based plants. I am concerned that this plant because although a native - it becomes invasive when it is treated in this manner? This plant is no longer a native because it is carrying a different DNA package - am I correct in assessing it that way? We define native plants by their DNA package and their chemical composition don’t we? Or at least I do when I am studying the historical and medicinal uses of plants.  The chemical changes the composition of the plant and it becomes a different plant because of its new chemical composition? Any thoughts on this one? Thank you, Kathryn Peterson Lambert

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: "MJ Webb" <m.j.webb at verizon.net>
> Subject: harmful milkweed from Home Depot
> Date: May 7, 2017 at 7:42:51 AM EDT
> To: <m.j.webb at verizon.net>
> 
> Beware the killer milkweed sold in stores.  Why must we always mess with mother nature?  it is all about the money, like the man said.  Pollinators goodbye.
>  
> From: Randie Trestrail <mailto:randiesue at gmail.com>
> Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2017 7:13 AM
> To: Noel and Nancy Talcott <mailto:nancynoeltalcott at verizon.net> ; Philip E. Prisco <mailto:priscop at verizon.net> ; mailto:gwyn at jlab.org <mailto:gwyn at jlab.org> ; Carol Bartram <mailto:bartram2 at verizon.net> ; Dana Horton <mailto:hortondands at gmail.com> ; mandy philbeck <mailto:mandy.canoodles at gmail.com> ; MJ Webb <mailto:m.j.webb at verizon.net> ; stu at gardenatriums.com <mailto:stu at gardenatriums.com>
> Subject: Fwd: harmful milkweed from Home Depot
>  
> Alert to plant and Bee people, please see below.
>  
> Randie
>  
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Susan Yager <soozigus at cox.net <mailto:soozigus at cox.net>>
> Date: Fri, May 5, 2017 at 6:02 PM
> Subject: harmful milkweed from Home Depot
> To: Sooz Yager <soozigus at cox.net <mailto:soozigus at cox.net>>
> 
> 
> The email below was distributed to the members of the Virginia Native Plant Society local John Clayton Chapter.  I would imagine the same situation may occur at any Home Depot across the country.
>  
> There’s more to the neonic problem than the monarch caterpillars it may kill.  Bees that take nectar from plants treated with neonics come to prefer the tainted flowers and seek out other neonic-treated flowers.  It’s sort of like an addiction in that they keep going back for the poison, and then of course they take the nectar and pollen to the hive, affecting the rest of the hive’s population.  These neonics are really, really bad stuff.  Please spread the word on Home Depot (and surely other places) to other pollinator gardeners.
>  
> Susie
>  
>  
> From: Louise Menges [mailto:ltmeng at verizon.net <mailto:ltmeng at verizon.net>] 
> Sent: Friday, May 05, 2017 1:31 PM
> To: Louise Menges
> Subject: Fwd: harmful milkweed plants being sold
>  
>>>> Dear JCC members,
> Lucile Kossodo received this email written by a concerned gardener in Louisiana and asked me to pass it on--
> Louise
>  
> 
> 
>>> I purchased a Milkweed plant from Home Depot near my home and it wasn't until I got home that I noticed the little information stick hidden behind the identification information that the plant had been treated with systemic Neonicotinoids.  The container boasted how desirable the plant is for birds and butterflies.  Yesterday I went to a different Home Depot and they had just put out an entire rolling cart of these plants, maybe about 100, all poisoned.  I contacted the store manager and told him that it is the same as giving poison candy to kids on Halloween. This is THE host plant for the Monarch.  My club, Shady Oaks and our junior club, Little Shadows have worked so hard to establish a Monarch Waystation and to educate people on the decline of the Monarch.  I hate to think of the millions of poison Milkweed being distributed nationwide by Home Depot.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> The container says distributed by Home Depot, 2455 Paces Ferry Rd N. W., Atlanta , Georgia.
>>> 
>>> I contacted the LSU Ag Agent for New Orleans, Dr Joe Willis.  He said the Neonicotinoids will dilute as the plants grow but that only a very small      amount will kill the larva of the Monarch.  He is contacting the Master Gardeners of the area.  I contacted the newsletters of the Jefferson Parish Council of Garden Clubs and the Federated Council of New Orleans Garden Clubs to ask that they send a notice to our local members.  I contacted a local GOA club and the president said she would inform her members. I contacted our LGCF President and our Environmental School Chairman with the information. 
>>> 
>>> We need a notice to Home Depot from a national source.  I contacted the Monarch Watch organization ,www.MonarchWatch.org/ws <http://www.monarchwatch.org/ws> <http://www.MonarchWatch.org/ws <http://www.monarchwatch.org/ws>>  at the University of Kansas (1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045) .  The Little Shadows Junior Garden Club registered our Monarch Waystation with them.  
>>> 
>>> 
>>> <http://www.monarchwatch.org/ws <http://www.monarchwatch.org/ws>> Monarch Watch : Monarch Waystation Program
>>> 
>>> www.monarchwatch.org <http://www.monarchwatch.org/> <http://www.monarchwatch.org <http://www.monarchwatch.org/>> 
>>> 
>>> Monarch Watch is a cooperative network of students, teachers, volunteers and researchers dedicated to the study of the Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus and its ...
>>> 
>>> Sandy we need a response from NGC to this issue. It needs to be sent soon as these plants are being sold now to well meaning people who are wanting to help the Monarch not kill them.  I know you are very busy but I hate to think of the billions of plants being sold nationwide and how that will cancel the efforts of so many to stop the demise of the Monarch. Could you please help?
>>> 
>>> Mary Ellen Miller
>>> 
>>> Shady Oaks Garden Club , LGCF District II
>>> 
>>> Moderator Little Shadows Junior Garden Club
>>> 
>>> Immediate Past President Federated Council of New Orleans Garden Clubs Inc.
>>> 
>>> memiller306 at yahoo.com <mailto:memiller306 at yahoo.com> <mailto:memiller306 at yahoo.com <mailto:memiller306 at yahoo.com>> 
>>> 
>>> (504)723-7796 <tel:(504)%20723-7796> <tel:%28504%29%20723-7796 <tel:%28504%29%20723-7796>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>  
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> -- 
> Randie Trestrail
> 212 Beach Road
> Poquoson, VA 23662
> 757.525.0777

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