Hey, Neighbors
As a resident of Old North Knoxville, one of the neighborhoods featured in the [April 18] Metro Pulse article "Thank God for North Knoxville!," I would like to thank Jesse Fox Mayshark and Metro Pulse for the extended write-up and photographs of all of North Knoxville, and particularly Old North Knoxville.
For those who have doubts that preservation of old buildings and old neighborhoods is not good for a city and its citizens, I invite you to read the article. Preservation is good for a city and its citizens, make no mistake about it. Without the past, there is no present, and without the present, there is no future.
David E. Booker
Knoxville
Orchid Myths Debunked
Local wildflower gardeners owe Andrea Sessions and Marty Zenni a debt of gratitude for their efforts to promote the use of native plants in landscaping ("Dishing the Local Dirt," March 21). However, Ms. Sessions' statements about lady's slipper orchids are based on outdated and incorrect information.
First, there are three species of lady's slippers native to this area, pink, showy, and yellow. While the pink lady's slipper is demanding, it nevertheless can be grown successfully by gardeners who provide for its needs. The showy and yellow slippers are no more difficult to cultivate than the tropical orchids to which they are related. Numerous orchid enthusiasts have been growing all three species for years.
Second, the notion that these orchids require a symbiotic fungus in order to survive has been shown to be incorrect by various experts in scientific articles published since at least 1996. The only orchids that absolutely require a fungus are those unusual species that have lost the ability to carry out photosynthesis. All orchids (both local and tropical) upon germination of the seed do require a fungus in order to obtain nourishment for the growing seedling, because orchid seeds lack a stored food supply for the developing offspring. However, once the orchid begins to produce green leaves and becomes capable of photosynthesis it needs the fungus only if growing conditions in its native habitat become less than optimal. Cultivated lady's slippers thus have no need for fungus.
Gardeners who wish to grow lady's slippers may obtain them in one of three ways: (1) thousands of plants are produced in laboratories from seed (not tissue culture as stated in the article); (2) some state highway departments have programs whereby orchids and other wildflowers are salvaged from highway construction projects; (3) in Tennessee, wild plants may be dug with the express written permission of the landowner for non-commercial purposes without a permit, and, for commercial purposes, with a permit from the Department of Agriculture. Both the pink and showy lady's slippers are listed as endangered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and an additional permit from this agency is required to dig them.
Myths regarding native orchids have unfortunately been promoted by people who believe that gardeners should be discouraged from growing them. No evidence exists to support this view, and it is dishonest to mislead people with the "orchid-fungus" myth. Home gardeners who attempt to grow native orchids are doing nothing illegal or unethical, provided plants are obtained from appropriate sources.
Anyone interested in more information about the pink lady's slipper, including a list of references, should visit the following web site: http://www.native-sons-nursery.com/Cyp_acaule/Cyp_acaule_info.htm.
Happy gardening!
John Tullock
Knoxville
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