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The Most Inviting Plant

Pampas grass, named for the South American region it comes from, used to be a fairly popular ornamental for front yards. In the last few years, though, sales have plummeted. According to Nick Coslett, marketing manager for Palmstead Nurseries in Ashford, Kent, England, the drop in popularity is at least partially because of the message people are getting from the plant: that swingers live in the house. “I’ve got no evidence that it was ever actually used for that,” Coslett said. “But there is that connotation, unfortunately.” In California, the plant is classified as an invasive plant, and owners who’ve decided to get it out of their yards have a hard time removing it. “They are very sharp and they’re very thick,” says George Hillier of the Hillier garden center chain. “Once it’s in and really established, getting rid of it is a couple of days worth of work.” (MS/London Telegraph) ...Wait, are we talking about the plant or the guests it brings in?