New Search
<br /> _ 11/14/02 THiJ 18;21 FA% 541 682 4882 EUGENE PW MNTNC & POS PW ADM N fE1j002 <br /> 1 <br /> NEWS RELEASE - EASTSIDE RESTORES AMAZON "~1 <br /> PAGE 2 <br /> November 14, 2002 <br /> "What makes this project different is that it connects our kids to the land in this p 'cular <br /> place where they can have a relationship with nature on a day-to-day basis, and it gi es <br /> them the feeling that they can make a difference" <br /> One out of every eight plant species on earth is naw in daixger, nearly 5,000 in the <br /> U.S. alone, and over 176 in Lane County. Especially severe in urban areas, the los of <br /> native plants also means the loss of the many animal species which depend on th for <br /> food and shelter, Worldwide, biodiversity is now being lost at a rate at least 100 ' es <br /> faster than ever before. "One of the plants we are planting, Showy lviilkweed, is o the <br /> Rare and Endangered list of the Emerald Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Or gon. ( <br /> This plant is the only locally ztative food plant for Monarch butterflies. Some of o other <br /> plants serve as host and nectar plants for other butterflies. So this project can also elp to 'i <br /> restore local butterfly populations," said Eastside Teacher Karen Hansen, who to es a j <br /> butterfly project class. ~ <br /> "The beginning of the fall rainy season is the best time to plant native plan , <br /> because then they can grow roots through the winter and early spring which will h lp <br /> them survive the dry summer," said Sharon Blick, Bastside parent and project <br /> coordinator, "But to ensure their survival, we will be watering them every two we ks <br /> from next May to October." <br /> To further improve the plants' chances of survival and to make planting ier, <br /> parents and other volunteers have already cleared the competing plants from 315 quare <br /> feet of meadow. They will rc~eet again on Saturday, November 16 from 9:30 to n on to <br /> finish cultivating the soil to make planting easier. After planting, the area will be j <br /> mulched with leaves to keep weeds from competing with the new plants for wat and f <br /> nutrients. <br /> i <br /> r <br /> i <br /> i <br /> <br />