Roundup

[Cris Guppy & Aud Fischer]

Tsk, tsk Norbert! You have failed to read every bit of that flood of
information that crosses our desks! The surfactant in Roundup/Vision is
deadly to amphibians that are out of water. The surfactant acts like a soap,
and damages the skin of amphibians. Since amphibians breath through their
skins, they then suffocate. So this is another reason for cautious,
carefully directed use of Roundup. Make sure none of those toads, frogs, or
salamanders are in the path of the spray! [Note to others - Norbert and I do
the same job in distant parts of British Columbia]

-----Original Message-----
From: Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX <Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca>
To: 'gardens2 at mindspring.com' <gardens2 at mindspring.com>;
dplex-l at raven.cc.ukans.edu <dplex-l at raven.cc.ukans.edu>; Lep List
<leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Date: March 17, 2000 4:00 PM
Subject: RE: Roundup


>As I understand it, Roundup is a brand name for a product that goes by the
>name of Vision for forestry applications.  Both have the same active
>ingredient - glyphosate.  This active ingredient works only on an enzyme
>pathway found in plants and has zero toxicological effects on animals.  I
>think it also breaks down rapidly under UV rays and is not know to be
>persistent in the soil - unlike products like tordon. It is widely used in
>agricultural environments and for home use. I have no idea what the
>toxicological properties (if any) of the surfactant are.  I use this
product
>where needed to kill plants that persistently try to grow in the cracks of
>my driveway.  Also I use it to knock back the lawn grass at the base of my
>cotoneaster hedge and even tho some spray does hit the leafless parts of
the
>shrub stems, I have not seen any effect on the shrubs as a result of this.
>Since the grass does reinvade the sprayed areas over time, I take this as
>proof of it not being persistent in the soil.  Subject to evidence to the
>contrary, I view this as a very safe chemical for use in plant control.
>Might as well say something controversial here and observe that life
without
>chemicals is impossible for a number of reasons, not the least of which is
>that life consists of chemicals. The best we can do is to avoid the most
>harmful chemicals and use all chemicals with caution.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Diane Falk [mailto:gardens2 at mindspring.com]
>Sent: Friday, March 17, 2000 1:50 PM
>To: dplex-l at raven.cc.ukans.edu; Lep List
>Subject: Roundup
>
>
>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 <mailto: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 <http://www.serendipity-gardens.com>
>>i< >i< >i<  diane at serendipity-gardens.com
><mailto:diane at serendipity-gardens.com>
>
>