. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. ABOVE: Jackie Foster and joAnn Dalton consider the merits of the black cherry tree at the Coastal Federation's 'Go Native Plant Sale.' Text & Photos by P a m Smith When the earliest English settlers stepped onto North Carolina shores more than 400 years ago, they declared it to be "the goodliest land under the cope of ; They discovered grasses that anchored dry, sandy beaches and swayed beneath pristine tidal marshes. They delighted at maritime forests with freshwater pools. They
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. ABOVE: Jackie Foster and joAnn Dalton consider the merits of the black cherry tree at the Coastal Federation's 'Go Native Plant Sale.' Text & Photos by P a m Smith When the earliest English settlers stepped onto North Carolina shores more than 400 years ago, they declared it to be "the goodliest land under the cope of ; They discovered grasses that anchored dry, sandy beaches and swayed beneath pristine tidal marshes. They delighted at maritime forests with freshwater pools. They marveled at thick forests and dense scrub vegetation with an abundance of wildlife. They praised rich soils that yielded plentiful fruits, berries, grains, herbs and fragrant wildflowers. Now, modem-day "settlers" are rediscover- ing the beauty — and benefits — of native plants that are integral to North Carolina's rich natural heritage. This back-to-nature trend is catching on — not only for major reforestation, stream restoration and stormwater management projects, but also for small-scale residential landscaping. An annual "Go Native Plant Sale" hosted by the North Carolina Coastal Federation (NCCF) testifies to the burgeoning interest among coastal gardeners. Nearly 2,000 participants flock to federation headquarters in Carteret County's Ocean community. Informational workshops augment the main attraction — the sale of some 3,000 native flowers, trees and shrubs. "Landscaping with native plants celebrates our natural heritage," says NCCF's Cape Lookout Coastkeeper Frank Tursi, event coordinator. "It helps restore regional character and put us a little closer to nature. The natural processes from which coastal native plants evolved over thousands of years represent the cog and wheel of a healthy ecosystem sustained by a complex web of biological ; Native plants are those said to have been present before the first non-
Size: 1867px × 1339px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionunclibra, booksubjectoceanography
