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I do know the plant, and it grows here, but I haven't noticed it in my neighborhood. It's called fireweed because it takes over in burned areas. What we do have a lot of here is purple loosestrife, a European invasive that chokes out native wetland plants. The Charles River runs through my town (well upstream from Boston) and the flood plain is breathtaking when this plant is in bloom, but local beauties like the cardinal flower just can't compete with it.

It is a shame that foreign plants can take over in that way. Over here, purple loosestrife is a fairly uncommon (and sought after) plant, considered attractive.

I have seen Fuchsia as a "weed" in Connemara (Ireland).

So nice to chat with other plant-lovers. So many of our neighbors have turned their land into virtual deserts (you know, the suburban look) and seem to look askance at us because "there's a there" here. Really, I can't imagine anything more magnificent than our native flora. Why would anyone want to replace Aronia arbutifolia and Viburnum dentatum and V. acerifolium with Japanese yews?

Yes indeed, aristo.

Are you in contact with any other US fern enthusiasts? We have met a few.

I know what you mean, aristo, though I do love the tranquility of some Japanese gardens, even those made of raked gravel and Acers (and enjoy Japanese cooking). But, if a Japanese yew is really a yew, why is anyone growing it in their yard? The berries of our common yew are pretty poisonous.

No, chrise, I'm not. I'm a steward rather than a collector, and that's perhaps why.

Nothing against things Japanese, Rosalind; in fact there's a gorgeous Sharaku looking down at me. It's just the idea of buying plants by the yard and bulldozing the ones that grew where they've grown forever to make way for them.

And very valuable, as such, aristo!

Well I absolutely agree with you there, aristo

Oh! The lovely Rosalind, up late. Sorry about going off on a rant.

Not long home.....rant Mr A??? Will leave this huge thread till tomorrow....looks like you've been having fun...x