This debate is getting heated. Great. To me though, the influx of purple loosestrife is equivalent to a hypothetical invasion of turfgrass throughout the wild prairie lands of North America. We're turning biological diversity into a monoculture wasteland. Purple flowers are beautiful, but that's no reason to seek out every rampantly growing flower of the world and try to encourage their growth here, nor is it a reason then to let p. loosestrife keep on eradicating previously diverse and rich wetland habitats. The bees will manage with less p. loosestrife. They've managed to survive for millions of years, they'll continue after we've disappeared from the face of the earth. Marc Patry Eastern Ontario Model Forest Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0 Canada tel (613) 258-8239 fax (613) 258-3920 e-mail [log in to unmask]