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Broom not the worst for local gardeners

Scotch broom is invasive, but it dies out once it has put nitrogen back into the soil.

Scotch broom is invasive, but it dies out once it has put nitrogen back into the soil.

Well our native blue lupin does the same – maybe slower. The real villain is ivy. It stays and stays and crowds out our native salal, which provides us with great berries. Ivy has replaced salal on Anderson Hill.

Oak Bay gardeners have clipped ivy down to no effect. It must be pulled out by the roots so that salal can be encouraged.

Our municipal gardeners need educating. Other areas have done better dealing with invasive species.

Monica Oldham

Oak Bay