ballroom16’s Recent Comments

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  Hurk?

  Umbra referred to people who "don't know how to easily hurk all their stuff around." I don't know the word "hurk." A Google search showed up mostly proper names. Dictionary.com doesn't list it. Urban Dictionary gives definitions that are--well--unsavory. "Hurk" in Umbra's sense sounds like a marvelously vigorous word. Is anybody using it this way?On Umbra on hauling goods by bike posted 1 year, 6 months ago 11 Responses

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  You don't have to go native

  Sigh. Umbra is again promulgating the false notion that native plants are good and exotics are bad. That's simplistic and wrong. There are plenty of good non-invasive exotic plants for any area you want to landscape. And sometimes exotics are better than natives.
  For example: Central Florida--my home--has been having terrible drought problems for years. Gardeners in this area would be foolish to plant natives like bald cypress, Florida anise, buttonbush, and dahoon holly. It's true that they're genuine Florida plants, but they thrive in moist areas and would be disastrous choices with our severe watering restrictions.
  On the other hand, there are plenty of attractive exotics that attract birds, don't require heavy watering, and aren't invasive. Try loquat, firespike, and shrimp plant (great for hummingbirds).
  It's simple-minded to assume that "native" means "good choice." Ask your nursery or extension service to recommend drought-tolerant, non-invasive plants, regardless of origin. On Umbra on attracting wildlife posted 2 years, 2 months ago 14 Responses

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  Spelling

  I love "Ask Umbra." The English teacher in my soul wants to point out that in the US, all right is always spelled as two words. (It's often spelled as one word in the UK, in case you're wondering.)On Umbra on boiling water for tea posted 2 years, 8 months ago 23 Responses