In the early 1970s....Because I grew up in Two Harbors, going to Gooseberry was a common activity. My uncle pointed out a patch of spearmint, growing low along a trail. The trail was on the north (or west) side of the Upper Falls, not too far past the Highway Bridge and beyond the stone building on that top side. It was a shady area with pine trees and not a lot of ground vegetation. We picked and chewed a few leaves. As a kid, I was amazed that a leaf tasted just like Wrigley?s spearmint gum!

I think I might've found a Hybrid between Spearmint (Mentha spicata) and the Native Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis). The hybrid doesn't seem to be spreading like crazy, Pollinators love them, and it Taste good. Would you Recommended Spreading it's seeds everywhere I hike so Hikers can enjoy mint time to time? It's 50% Native, therefore 50% not a problem right?

John, it is unwise to spread seeds if you aren't sure what species it is. It would be unwise to spread spearmint in any case, hybrid or not.

What about the Native Version? There's no such thing as an Invasive Native right? If so is that the solution? Using Native Wild Mint to Out Compete our Invasive Species? Seeds are cheap, herbicides are not.

John, native plants are not considered invasive, though some can be aggressive in cultivation. In my own yard, natives are some of my worst weeds since the natural factors that keep their populations in check are absent in my unnatural suburban yard.

That begs the Question, Are our forests also becoming unnatural just like your Suburban Yard? Could a Native Plant disrupt the natural balance too? At that point is anything natural left? My local forest gets run off from herbicides & fertilizers thus disrupting the natural balance. Are Invasive species pioneering a new balance? or adapting to an already destroyed balance via Humans?

John, our forests become unnatural only when people who could prevent it, don't. A new "balance" based on invasive species only decreases biodiversity and increases local extinctions.

Local Extinctions makes me think about Ghost Introgression. How many extinct species have their genetics in modern plants? Are they Truly extinct or just evolved into a new species? Also How many times have these "Invasvies Species" Cycles happened throughout evolutionary history? How was Biodiversity affected? and How did Nature Overcome the Lack of Bio-Diversity? Will Nature eventually overcome our mistakes (Faster if we Team up with Nature)? Could Native species like deer help further exacerbate Invasives species spread? Despite being a Native Species, did the introduction of Invasive Plants turn Deer into an Invasive Species too? Or is that not Possible? Is the solution to hunt/eat more deer? Or something else?

John, white-tailed deer population exploded due to habitat fragmentation caused by humans. They thrive in forest and woodland "edge" systems, the amount of which increased dramatically as trees were cleared for agriculture and development. The deer overpopulation causes further habitat destruction.

They also thrive in Suburban Gardens 🙄 Interesting you bring up Forest/Woodland Edges. They are the most richest ecosystems I've seen. That explains the deer because the edges is usually where I find the most abundant wild edibles. I've cleared/Thinned lots of Trees in my Property to create more Woodland Edge, and noticed Lots of Native Plants popping up. Apparently they were just waiting for the moment to shine. How many of our Invasive Plants do deer eat? Are there any native plants deer actually help out?

John, I am not aware of any native plants that benefit from deer overpopulation.