I used to have a lawn, but now I have more...
...more plant diversity, 
...more recognition and appreciation of the changing seasons,
January 2009
January 2009
May 2009
September 2009...more wildlife,
...more pathways for wandering and more time for wondering.
Now, I have so much more than I could ever have with a lawn.
Now, I have so much more than I could ever have with a lawn.Earlier this month the Lawn Reform Coalition launched its website. The goal of the organization is to promote change in the American lawn.
The typical American lawn is doused with chemicals to make it green and free of insects and disease. Lawns are flooded in more of our precious drinking water than necessary to keep them green. Lawns require regular maintenance that creates noise and air pollution. After all that work, the lawn is a sterile, monoculture environment that does little to support wildlife and it looks just like the one next door.
Susan Morrison, one of the members of The Coalition, is running a contest on her blog Blue Planet Garden Blog to win a copy of John Greenlee's new book The American Meadow Garden. The premise of the contest is to fill in the blank: "I used to have a lawn, but now I have ______." Thus, the purpose of this post. I believe in the cause and I want a free book!
Check out the Lawn Reform Coalition website and Susan Morrison's website for more information.
Great post! I love the before and after pictures. I do hope your neighbors will catch on, mine seem to take their time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! I particularly like the way you've shown the way the garden is transformed each season. What's crazy about the mania for lawns where I live in California is that people prize them specifically because they look the SAME all year long!
ReplyDeleteIt's been such a treat reading about the very diverse gardens that are being planted instead of lawn. Thanks so much for posting the link.
This post was a bit corny. I have trouble reading "more pathways for wandering and more time for wondering" without laughing.
ReplyDeleteMostly, I wonder "how would this plant look if I moved it over here."
I just stumbled across your blog and really like what you've done.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Plano and it's refreshing to see someone acknowledging the flora of the Blackland Prairie in the burbs!
This might be a bit forward of me, but I'll be in Plano next week and I'd love to drive by your front yard to admire what you've done. Would you be willing to share what street you're on?
Keep up the good work!
Ben, thanks for the comments. The photos are carefully staged to show the best views of the yard, so you may not be very impressed if you drive by. Give me another year to position plants and look me up on your next visit.
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