Funny to see this so soon after commenting on one of Janelle's recent posts about losing my mum when I was little and being found amongst the gunnera! Totally agree about language! I've been rethinking my use of 'non-native' and 'invasive' etc ever since seeing Claire Ratinon talk on the subject at a talk last year about her book, Unearthed. Some giant rhubarb for thought.
I’ll have to look out for that one. I think it’s the emphasis on ‘non-native’ that bothers me most, particularly in the case of something like gunnera that’s been here for over 150 years. I can see how the ways words like that are used in this context can slip over into other contexts. I remember Melissa Harrison saying something like how you use that language is where “your pants show”.
Yes it's mad isn't it, I used it and shared it when I first started learning about trees, because that's what I was reading everywhere, but the more I thought about it the more it seemed ridiculous to be talking about horse chestnuts as non native when they've been here since the 1600s!! Like maybe it's interesting to know where they originated because it might be able to tell us something about it but do we need to use that term specifically? I don't think so!
There's a patch of giant rhubarb on the cliffs not far from us. It's spectacular! And doesn't seem to be spreading thankfully. Congratulations on your little person too ☺️
Funny to see this so soon after commenting on one of Janelle's recent posts about losing my mum when I was little and being found amongst the gunnera! Totally agree about language! I've been rethinking my use of 'non-native' and 'invasive' etc ever since seeing Claire Ratinon talk on the subject at a talk last year about her book, Unearthed. Some giant rhubarb for thought.
I’ll have to look out for that one. I think it’s the emphasis on ‘non-native’ that bothers me most, particularly in the case of something like gunnera that’s been here for over 150 years. I can see how the ways words like that are used in this context can slip over into other contexts. I remember Melissa Harrison saying something like how you use that language is where “your pants show”.
Yes it's mad isn't it, I used it and shared it when I first started learning about trees, because that's what I was reading everywhere, but the more I thought about it the more it seemed ridiculous to be talking about horse chestnuts as non native when they've been here since the 1600s!! Like maybe it's interesting to know where they originated because it might be able to tell us something about it but do we need to use that term specifically? I don't think so!
There's a patch of giant rhubarb on the cliffs not far from us. It's spectacular! And doesn't seem to be spreading thankfully. Congratulations on your little person too ☺️
Thanks Amy! 😃
Love this. It is humongous when in full leaf but beautiful. Not great for clogging waterways though. Congratulations on parenthood by the way.
Thank you!