AND SHAMEFUL BUNNINGS!
‘They are Moving into Grain Production Areas,
Choking Out Crops and Costing Farmers.’
From 7 NEWS
WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED?
An ornamental flowering plant sold at Bunnings and Other Nurseries
has been labelled dangerous to Australia’s Environment.
Do You Know This Flower?
Gazania daisies, bright coloured flowers native to South Africa, are a
“Highly-Invasive Plant”, a new study by La Trobe University said.
According to the Research, Gazania Seeds show a High Tolerance for a wide range of environmental conditions, enabling them to Spread More Aggressively and Destructively than previously expected.
As a result, researchers warn that the plant can become a problematic weed all year-round across much of Australia, potentially leading to widespread infestations.
Gazania has already been found growing in a range of habitats, from coastal sand dunes and stream banks to wastelands, open grasslands, roadsides and cultivated or irrigated sites in southern and parts of Western Australia.
“These preliminary findings suggest This Weed has the potential to develop a significant seedbank in Australian no-till grain production systems,”
the report said.
Invasive Species Council Advocacy manager Imogen Ebsworth has called for a National Ban on the plant, expanding from the current restrictions in South Australia.
“Gazanias are the perfect example of an escaped invasive garden
plant that needs to be banned from sale,” she said.
“I urge the Nursery Industry to Act on this New Evidence and Stop Selling it."
“Gazanias are not only overrunning native grasslands, coastlines and roadsides — they are moving into grain production areas, choking out crops and costing farmers.”
Ebsworth said three-quarters of Australia’s listed unstoppable weeds began as ornamental plants, adding that failing to act now would represent a “regulatory failure”.
“We are Calling on Governments to Take Immediate Steps to phase out high-risk species like Gazania from Nurseries and Online Marketplaces,” she said.
Gazanias are sold legally through Nurseries and Plant Retailers in various regions across Australia.
BUNNINGS, one of the Retailers stocking the Plant, said it has no current plans to Stop Selling Gazanias.
“Like many Nurseries and Retailers, we sell a wide range of locally-sourced plants across our Stores and we work hard to create an assortment that caters to customer preferences and demand,” said Cam Rist, Bunnings Director of Merchandise.
“As always, we closely follow all relevant local biosecurity regulations
and the advice of regulators about the plants we sell.”
That is Only the Ones Imposed on them by LAW. That's Very Selfish when they have been INFORMED about the HIGH RISKS of Planting These. Doesn't say much for them does it?
Let's see what the ABC has to say about that shall we?
Wait a minute, this is what I found. Researching as I write.
Weeds Can Rob Native Plants Of Water And Nutrients They Need To Grow (ABC Network)
Kushi Venkatesh, Reporter Tue 23 Jul 2024 at 12:00am
The Invasive Species Council is calling for tougher and clearer laws about what plants can be sold and grown in gardens after some big nurseries, INCLUDING BUNNINGS, were found to be selling plants Listed by Governments as Invasive Weeds. Kushi finds out what that means and why Some Plants that Look Good in the Garden are Really Bad News for Our Environment. Source HERE
So it turns out that Bunnings LIED. How astonishing - that is really BAD.
Makes you wonder how many Other Invasive Weeds they are Selling if they can't be Trusted? Hmmm!
Customers are advised to check Plant Labels and consider Local Environmental Suitability before purchasing. And mind you, MOST Seed Packets and Plant Labels Do Not say "Invasive" (if they are) do they? It is Not in Their Interest to do so. Sadly.
But wait a minute. aren't Bunnings considered - and promote themselves to be - the "One Stop Shop" for All Your Hardware and Gardening Needs? The Mega Type Store that has EXPERTS in ALL their departments who are ready to Professionally Advise You about ANY PROJECT you're up to or Need?
Well NO, not Exactly. I know 3 Bunnings Stores. A Local one did have 2 Horticulturists in their Outdoor Nursery. Then in recent years they've had NONE (ongoing) but a 2nd Store has 3 Horticulturists that they won't share with the others and a 3rd Store just has young Girls like the Local Store. So in 2 out of 3 Stores they have all Young Staff with No Experience. That doesn't help when you have Questions, does it? Needless to say, they would have absolutely No Idea about the Spreading Habits of some plants - their Guess is as good as ours.
I met an interesting Customer there some months ago who says he doesn't think the Management has any interest in the Nursery Department really - they just have it there for people so we will go to their Store. The Girls are very Nice, happy to help you find something but they always say "I don't know" to Gardening Questions of any kind. A Local Nursery Centre Always has Friendly Professional Staff to Answer ALL Your Questions, their Prices are Reasonable (Bunnings have gone up) and their Plant and Seedling Stock is always Well Cared for and I always go on my way Satisfied with my purchases. Seems that BUNNINGS is Not the Transparent Company I think they Used to be decades ago. But just like all the Food Giant Companies out there "They just Want our MONEY" so do be Careful!
As a Major Outlet for the Sales of these Gazania Seeds and Plants:
BUNNINGS DON'T CARE, OBVIOUSLY - DO THEY?
Gazanias Proving To Wreck Landscapes For Australian Farming Properties Etc
URGENT: They Need To Be Severely BANNED Quick Stat.
I Think that's SHOCKING that BUNNINGS want to Keep Selling Them!
We're talking about the Same Bunnings who PUSHED Our Other Hardware Stores almost Out of Existence,
like HOME HARDWARE and MITRE 10 many of us Used to Enjoy!!!
Plus Smaller Family Hardware Stores who could Not Possibly Keep Up with their Fierce Merciless Competition. We should ask Our State Governments to Come Against UNFAIR Competition.
We're speaking about the Same BUNNINGS Nurseries that are Often LAX in WATERING Lots and Lots of SEEDLINGS and they are Left Thirsty and Languishing for Water while Waiting for Someone to Buy them and Bunnings just
THROW THEM OUT.
In fact, Scientists have now discovered that "Plants Scream"
when they don't get Watered.
We're talking about the SHAMEFUL RETAILER that was in the News not long ago for Ordering Heaps of Plants and Seedlings from Wholesale Nurseries on a regular basis and Refusing to take a Lot of Stock from them on Arrival (because it doesn't Suit Them obviously.)
They just say to the Wholesalers "We will take These and we are Not taking Those" and Leave it to Them to have to Cope with the LOSS of Sales and ALL the SURPLUS those Wholesalers have Grown ready for the ORDERS BUNNINGS MAKE.
That came up on the News not long after Coles and Woolworths were being dealt with for Outrageous Prices and Shameful Buying Practices with OUR FARMERS.
We're talking about the Same Bunnings who are about to START CHARGING US for CARPARK FEES in the Near Future. So we will really need to make those Shopping Trips to Bunnings WORTHWHILE SOON. HEY? (If we're paying for Parks as well)
We won't really Save Money on their Prices for Seedlings and Plants and Small Hardware Items if we Have To PAY for PARKING FEES, will we? And needless to say, there goes Our Leisurely Browsing Visits to "Bunnings" as well Folks, because practically Everything Else is Going Up for Everyone these days, aye?
SHAME ON YOU BUNNINGS. Disgraceful. I think they're Outrageous!!!
The Company with NO Conscience!!!
They're Inviting More of This!
Gazanias Are Virtually Indestructible Says Vineyard Expert - Please Avoid - Need To Be Banned!
CLEARLY: This Is An INVASION We Cannot Afford
I Found This On A Council Website In The Alexandria Area Of The Fleurieu Peninsula In South Australia where one of Australia's Best Tourist Attractions VICTOR HARBOR and their Best Surfing Beach MIDDLETON are. I hope many of you will see the Sense in the 7 NEWS Appeal and a number of Other Appeals I have seen recently, when you read this:
Why remove gazanias?
It is the responsibility of the landowner to control gazanias on their property. Established plants reproduce by seed, which can disperse 1km or more from the source, and through Rhizomes, produce a dense carpeting groundcover. In coastal environments, there is potential for Gazanias to form a continuous ground cover, which chokes out native vegetation.
Council staff and volunteers are engaged in the ongoing removal of gazanias from reserves in Goolwa and Middleton, particularly in the dune system along the coastal strip. The work is vital to preserve the biodiversity of bushland areas but can only be successful if new plants do not re-establish where older plants have been removed. We are appealing for the help of local residents by asking them to remove plants from private gardens and road verges, so that they do not contribute to the re-establishment of gazanias in bushland reserves.
It makes practical sense to choose Australia Native plant species because they are adapted to Our Conditions anyway, and therefore require less maintenance, less water and less fertiliser - basically less fuss! There are lots of resources available to show you how others have gone about creating a backyard for Biodiversity.
Be Careful - They Run Rampant Through Lawns And Gardens
BUNNINGS Is A GIANT RETAILER Deliberately Selling These INVASIVE WEED SEEDS!
Gazania is listed as an invasive weed in Victoria due to its "extensive potential for further spread".
(ABC News: Else Kennedy) 15th July 2024
The Invasive Species Council says escaped garden plants have already contributed to at least four Australian Extinctions, and are Costing the Agriculture Industry over $4.3 billion to manage each year.
This Came Up A YEAR Ago Friends, and Concern was first raised in 2021.
I Repeat The Evidence Is In Really
"THEY DON'T CARE!"
And I found this Article on a different Website:
Farmers and Orchardists are having to deal with the SCOURGE of GAZANIAS
It's Never Ending and Very Expensive and Home Gardeners often have them Crowding other Plants out.
These Plants often pop up in Neighbor's Yards too, not just our own. That is No Way to Keep Friendly Relations where we Live, is it?
Celebrity gardeners aren’t joking when they describe Gazanias as hardy plants suited to a range of tough environments. Unfortunately that’s Not Good News when you’re Trying to Get Rid of Them!!!
Gazanias - I Know They Are Pretty But ONLY
When The Flowers BLOOM
Please be Careful Folks, Our Farmers and Orchardists are Battling So Much.
And many Home Gardeners regret planting them!
Personally, I've seen some Pop Up for no reason in my Front Yard some months ago. They look alright when they're Flowering but quite Ugly when they're Not. That causes me to want to take them out.
Also, they have a heck of a lot more Leaves than Flowers anyway, when they are blooming.
I've known these flowers for decades and they are a Nursery Item. Now I know what these plants look like when they're Not in Bloom, I have no hesitation in Removing them. Especially Now I Know a Lot More about them.
I've been very busy with my Websites over the last year, so that has been a distraction, however now I know how Straggly and Clumpy their Growth Habit can be and the Council Cautions plus recent Concerns about this INVASIVE WEED, I really don't want them Multiplying in my Front Yard AND my Neighbor's Lawns etc. Just think of it "they can disperse 1km" then another and another. I don't want to encourage that by leaving them there. Do you? Some people are saying to me "Absolutely Not, if I had them growing!"
Just this Year, Farmers have had their worst time with them in addition to the Droughts.
Notice how Awful they look in the background in this Photo when they RUN RAMPANT?
Invasive Garden Weeds - Behind the News
"Australian Farmers Struggle Against Insurmountable Odds"
How do I stop gazanias invading my crops?
Are there any effective herbicide options growers can deploy?
Gazanias have unpalatable waxy leaves that protect the plant from grazing, salt air and moisture loss during drought.
In addition to their competitive traits, such as being drought-hardy, prolific seeders, surface germinators, vegetative reproduction via underground rhizomes and likely exuding allelopathic compounds into the soil, gazania leaves also resist herbicide uptake.
Once established, Gazanias can compete strongly with legume crops and can also survive well within Dense Cereal Crops. The hope is that an effective pre-emergent herbicide will be identified to give growers another tactic to stop the spread of this Weed.
Article Source HERE
OTHER READING
Imported flower escalating $5 billion threat in Australia: 'Massive problems'
First introduced to Australia decades ago as an ornamental garden plant, this pest has Now Exploded in Great Numbers.
Invasive species experts are sounding the alarm over a nasty weed continuing to sting the Australian economy, that outcompetes native vegetation, is extremely difficult to remove and is even still being sold at nurseries.
How can we fight back?
"Restricting the sale and also declaring them a weed of some importance would go a long way — because then it all of a sudden raises more awareness among the public, and also gives weed management authorities a bit more focus to manage this.
For More INFO on How it Works, Read the rest of this Article
by Senior Reporter of Yahoo News HERE
Personally, considering the Seriousness of this, I see the Behavior and Conduct of Our Governments and Nurseries (Wholesale and Retail) as RECKLESS and IRRESPONSIBLE. Totally!!!
It brightened Aussie Gardens in the ’50s—Now it’s Threatening to Wipe Out Farmland
Researchers from LaTrobe University echoed that concern, adding: ‘There are major concerns that Gazania is killing productive land with crops unable to compete against such a vigorous weed.’
Despite mounting evidence, Gazania seeds and plants remained available for purchase through major retailers, including Bunnings, Amazon, and Online Garden Stores. They continued to be sold even in areas where their threat had been officially recognised.
‘Gazanias are not only overrunning native grasslands, coastlines and roadsides, they are moving into grain production areas, choking out crops and costing farmers,’ said Invasive Species Council Advocacy Manager Imogen Ebsworth. Source Seniors Club HERE
While Many Times We Are In The Comfort Of Our Homes
These Guys Are Fighting For Us AND Themselves
Can I Say On Their Behalf “Give Me A Break!?”
It’s Their “Bread and Butter” (Income) It’s Our Bread and Butter (Food) Too.
I’ve lived in the Country AND Suburbs. Let me tell you
“Without Them we would Not Be Here”
Why do so many of Us not CARE More?
How many of us are Thankful to Them when we Sit at our Table?
We know how to Complain when the Shelves in the
Shopping Centres are Half Empty don't we?
Try Their Problem out for Size? Friends, we would not have the GUTS.
They Have MY Respect!
As most of us are Aware......Our Government are Pathetic and Disgraceful!
It's Simply Not Right For Any of Us to Heap Stress on Them
when they Battle Against the Elements to Put FOOD on OUR Table
Is It Now?
Many are Compelled to "Walk Off The Land" and Many have.
I Don't Blame Them. Really I Don't.
It would be Good if Albanese and Jacinta Allan CHOKE on their Next Meal
They are a Disgrace to Public Service and Forget the People of this Country EMPLOY them.
I say to Some Folk: Don't be so UPPITY at the REAL WORKERS in This Country because the Bread you toast for Breakfast and the Orange Juice you wash it down with; those Specialty Cheeses; all the Premade Meals you have and most of the Ingredients you make those Favourite Recipes with CAME FROM Our Farmers, Growers, Dairymen and Orchardists. And by the way, your Dairy Produce Came from A COW and the Sweat of the Dairyman's Brow. So you can Stop your Silly Nonsense right there - You're Not Kidding anyone. OK?
My Dad was a skilled Technician who Serviced Farmers and Dairymen and Almond Growers for Miles around, in my Preteens. He was very interested his Customers and Liked to Converse with them. They are REAL PEOPLE, there is Nothing False about them. They have a Dignity that is not commonly understood.
And truly I say to you, if many more "Walk off the Land" we will be brought to OUR KNEES and Realise how Dependent we Are ON THEM aka like Children are on their Parents, because They FEED US - Not our Local Supermarkets. Maybe we ALL should Show Them our Respect and Gratitude?
Honestly Friends, most of us forget those things in this Modern Age of TECH,
Supermarkets, Fancy Packaging and Various Conveniences:)
I've stayed up through the night to 5am for those I am defending - and Home Gardeners - to get This News Out to ALL My Readers and Visitors. Please Spread the Word, I would be Truly Grateful.
"Hi there Guys, Girls and Kids, Many of Our Hearts are With You.
This is my Labour of Love for You - I will start my day Now"
THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT – NOT OUR RESISTENCE
(When We Want To Do Our Own Thing, No Matter What!)
IN CLOSING
Note: The SCRAPPY Gazanias growing in my Front Yard look nothing like the beautiful Close Up Pictures I have used in this Article (designed to look that way) Indeed Not - I can't wait to take them Out this Week!
SHAME on You Bunnings, for Not Wanting to HELP!
and Anyone Else who SELLS or BUYS them when they Know the FACTS!
Shame on You Any MPs who Know about This and have Not Acted on it.
You Should Serve This Country WELL.
AND
I Also Call ALL Wholesale and Retail Nurseries to ACCOUNT for This Outrage.
You are Not SERVING This Country, People OR Customers Well.
I have Nothing but CONTEMPT for such SELFISH PURSUITS!
If you were Ignorant, Now you Know.
Thanks So Much to All Those who SHARE my Sentiments:)