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Gail Gentry implements her own designs. 

 And she saves by doing the yard work herself. 



In addition, nurseries and garden centers 

 stock a generous supply of plants and advice. 

 And N.C. Agricultural Extension Service agents 

 and district soil conservationists offer free help. 



Consult such experts on the right plants to 

 use in your area. Plants that survive Wilming- 

 ton's sweltering summers may not live through 

 Manteo's biting winter winds. 



"The best rule of thumb is, 'Don't move a 

 native plant either 50 miles north or south of 

 where you find it," says Karl Graetz, a renown 

 coastal horticulturist. 



Along the northeast coast, a colder climate 

 and harsh northeast winds weed out all but the 

 hardiest plants. That's why only 10 or 15 percent 



of Ben Hill's clients choose plants for their 

 beauty. 



As you move down the coast, warmer weather 

 permits a wider variety of growth. 



Strope uses more ornamentals than he used 

 to, and he imports plants from California, Texas, 

 Georgia, Louisiana and Florida. 



"We're able to now start using the more 

 elaborate landscape materials," he says. 



But Strope admits only some of the fancier 

 plants work. Making it through the seasons is 

 the test. • 



(Sea Grant has two booklets with more tips 

 on stabilization. Write us for Planting Marsh 

 Grasses for Erosion Control, UNC-SG-81-09; or 

 Building and Stabilizing Coastal Dunes with 

 Vegetation, UNC-SG-82-05.) 



If 



f it weren't for the cold weather and a few 

 inconveniences, John Alpar would probably live 

 outside. 

 You see, Alpar loves plants. 

 Every inch of his yard in Emerald Isle is tilled 

 for one green thing or another And a good part 

 of his house is a nursery. 



He comes by his avocation honestly. It's also 

 his vocation. 



A horticulturist and landscape architect, Alpar 

 treats his yard as he would a good friend. He 

 nurtures it, gives it his time and strives to make 

 the most of the land that encircles his house. 



"I really enjoy it very much," says Alpar "I like 

 things to grow. I like living things, color." 



After 17 years in North Carolina, he's learned 

 what can grow at the coast. 



"Many, many plants will grow just like 

 anywhere else. You have to work. You have to 

 be there and look after it." 



Pamper the plants while they are small and 

 let them get established, he advises. "Then 

 nature will take it from there." 



As far as landscaping goes, Alpar leaves most 

 of the work to nature. 



When he started planning a few years ago, 

 the first thing he did was see what was already 

 growing on his property. 



"Nature's always correct," Alpar says. 



He was lucky. His property was closer to the 

 sound than the ocean and allowed for more 

 growth. 



So Alpar left the tall pines and holly trees, 

 and found native plants that would comple- 

 ment them. Exotic plants, he says, would give 

 him a lot of headaches. 



He has no grass. He doesn't like to mow. 



So, for ground cover, Alpar uses juniper, par- 

 tridge berry, English lavendar and lots of pine 

 straw. 



And he plants perennials like chrysan- 

 themums and day lilies for color and "years of 

 enjoyment." 



He also finds pleasure in his small garden, a 

 patch of herbs and roses— his favorite. 



A purist of sorts, Alpar germinates his own 

 seeds and uses no chemicals. 



You get a better plant that way, and it's less 

 expensive, he says. 



"People spend $4 to $5 for a single plant. At 

 the same time, I get a package of seeds and get 

 hundreds of them," he adds, grinning. 



Alpar's meticulous care continues as the 

 seeds grow. Every morning he waters his yard 

 and checks for insects. In the evenings, he 

 looks over his plants again, pruning or fertiliz- 

 ing them when needed. 



When spring comes, Alpar is glad he hasn't 

 cut corners. 



Despite the dry soil, the heat and the salty 

 air, his yard blooms with life. 



His secret? 



"I can see the beauty in the land like God 

 and nature put it there. I want to keep it going 

 the way it was." • 



