Well, yes, exactly so, about the local businesses. I have been supporting this local garden center for that reason and also because I really like the family who run it and personally detest having to shop at Lowes or whatever.
So, okay, I am not going to have a concern about BT, or about organic certified plants. I am hoping caterpillars will join the party but I am not preparing to specially raise them, only wanting to have an actually healthy garden.
But with the issue of the persistent pesticides, shopping locally doesn't seem to be a sufficient solution.
My housemate/cousin wants to go to a local place that grows hostas, which she has enjoyed shopping at in the past, and get some more plants from them. She is asking me, now, how to find out whether their plants are safe.
I don't know much about hostas (I know there is a hosta forum here and have only briefly glanced at it.) I don't know if hostas are particularly attractive to bees and butterflies to begin with! So, I'm feeling a bit confused here.
Would you, whomever here is committed to a butterfly and bee friendly garden, say go ahead and get those local hostas? Would you investigate and try to find out what the growers use or don't use?
I don't mean to be pushy here but I'm still trying to find my way with this situation -- knowing everyone has a bit of a different set of priorities etc.
