Roundup

[Diane Falk]

Hello to all,
     Instead of quietly ignoring the Roundup issue I'd like to see more information shared regarding toxicity and butterfly gardening.  I may receive some _heat_ for throwing my usage into the hat so hear goes.
     None of us using Roundup truly wish to poison the earth nor larvae, nor bees when we choose to apply an herbicide rated such as is Roundup, yet we all must _deep down_ understand any chemical will "given timely research" be discovered to have negative impact.   
     To keep my own Roundup use as safe as is possible I voluntarily chose to spray (with hand-held gear) on windless periods of the day.  I try to remember to wear goggles and gloves.  I spray as close to ground level as possible.  
     Example.  Last November during a week of extremely warm sunny weather I sprayed crab grass which had invaded areas where narcissus bulbs grow along my driveway.  This one dose seems to have been effective because the grass is now brown and no fresh green shoots are appearing.
     In another part of my eleven acres of butterfly gardens I sprayed (again near to soil level) lawn which I wish to turn over with my Tiller early in the spring so I could plant a larger patch of Monarch host-plant and perennials.  Again---the Kentucky blue grass is deceased and weather-permitting, I shall be able to work in this area very soon.
     I wish I could know there was no long-term nor unknown negative effects from my use of this chemical.  Time and research will tell.   Responsible use of the product will tell, as will irresponsible usage. 
     I prefer to lean toward safety yet I alone am responsible for holding aggressive species of weeds at bay.  I prefer to lean toward safety because I cannot prove, nor disprove how DDT, and other farm chemicals might have triggered a fatal brain tumor in our three year old.
     What I am obviously trying to say is this:
     Spray low, spray responsibly, spray intelligently and try to do no harm with what we know to be true with Roundup.   I recieve no funding from Roundup, so this is not a commercial.  <Deep Sigh) I wish we could all garden with no chemicals,...yet even baking soda on rose bushes is using a chemical.  That's all I know how to share until time permits more accumulated wisdom.
Have a great lepidoptera season!
Diane Falk

diane at serendipity-gardens.com
Serendipity B & B *** Serendipity Children's Memorial Gardens Foundation
Butterfly and Hummingbird Host and Nectar Plant Resources 
http://www.serendipity-gardens.com  >i< >i< >i<  diane at serendipity-gardens.com
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