Nurseries Going Pesticide-Free

By this time last year, the fabled Rose Garden at Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill would've been sprayed with pesticides six or seven times already - 150 gallons a pop, for a total of 2,000 gallons a year. The amount so far in 2011: Zero.

That's because Morris and many other public gardens across the country are tossing toxic chemicals and embracing organic methods in their rose gardens.

"Everyone wants to get away from chemical reliance and move toward enhancing the whole environment of the garden so the roses can be naturally healthy," said Justin Jackson, a landscape architect from Georgia who became Morris' rosarian, or chief rose guy, in August.