I am always delighted to hear from my subscribers, especially when you teach me things! So I was particularly appreciative to hear from a couple of readers after the last newsletter about AI.

My client, Sam, replied that he’s used AI for gardening advice. He asked: What can I plant in my Maryland yard that will be deer resistant and grow well? I would like perennials. Also, can you sketch out a garden plan?

ChatGPT replied: Great! You’re in Maryland, which falls in USDA Hardiness Zones 6b to 7a depending on your location, so you have a good range of perennial plants that thrive there. For a deer-resistant, low-maintenance perennial garden, here’s a list of solid options and a simple garden plan to get you started.

It then went on to provide and describe six sun-loving and six shade-loving choices for his backyard garden. For my local readers also plagued by hungry deer, here are the suggestions:

Sun-Loving:

• Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Silvery foliage, tall lavender-blue flowers

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida): Maryland’s state flower, bright and cheerful

• Salvia (Salvia nemorosa): Drought-tolerant, long bloom time, deer dislike the scent

• Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata): Sunny yellow blooms and a long flowering period

• Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): Butterfly magnet, sturdy and drought-tolerant

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Flat-topped flowers and feathery foliage

Part Shade to Shade:

• Hellebore (Helleborus): One of the earliest bloomers, evergreen, very deer-resistant

• Lenten Rose: Similar to hellebore but often with different bloom times/colors

• Ferns (e.g., Autumn fern, Christmas fern): Texture and color in shady spots

• Astilbe: Feathery plumes and bold foliage

• Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla): Heart-shaped leaves, tiny blue flowers like forget-me-nots

ChatGPT also provided Sam with a sketch of a garden with mixed sun and shade plants, along with placement instructions. Sam is still tinkering with his garden plans, but AI provided a good starting point for his project.

On the other hand, my reader Barb had this caution about AI: “I am finding AI helpful, however I want everyone to be aware that one AI search uses as much energy as a large TV left on for a year. AI has recently overtaken the airline industry in energy usage. So while it’s a great tool, it’s hard to see the climate impact it has. We need to use it responsibly.”

She was also kind enough to attach this article and I learned so much about AI and its environmental impacts. We need to use everything mindfully, don’t we?

I will continue to use AI, but I will stop using it for recipes. I can do that on my own. Thanks Barb!