The growing trend of making your yard a natural, national park

[@keeparizonawild156]

Way to go y’all. Rewilding urban areas is a vital step in collectively healing ourselves.

[@user-rd6vl8sv1w]

Absolutely not. This is how you bring in rodents, fleas and ticks which leads to more disease.

[@uncertaintytoworldpeace3650]

I have no idea what you’re talking about all I’m doing is sitting on my ass watching KZbin as my mom plants flowers in her garden that she sprays pesticides on to commit genocide. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I am not healing anything.

[@MattFoleysGhost]

It’s moving. I imagine a Birds Eye view of sterile suburban subdivisions that could come alive with flora and fauna. HOA’s need to adapt.

[@derickdoveglass]

100%

[@marilyno8616]

"Healing ourselves," AND THE EARTH - - of which we can't heal without !

[@lesleywilliams323]

We’ve been doing this for years… we have no grass at all, but loads of bees & butterflies & birds..

[@Americansikkunt]

Try adding bird baths.

[@RabidDisposition]

Same. My yard is nothing but natural flora. In the spring it is full of natural flowers.

[@jl5034]

I wish you guys were my neighbors! Where we're at, the fking neighbors spray round up and it crosses our perimeter. Both neighbors on each side 🤦‍♀️

[@sweetcountrybear]

wonderful!

[@alliehamilton-calhoun162]

I don't have any kentucky bluegrass either, just native shrubs, flowers, and grasses in my central Illinois yard. All it's done is make me the number one topic for complaints on the neighborhood social media sites. They send their bug spraying companies to ask if they can spray my lawn because I'm 'attracting wildlife' to the neighborhood. They accuse me of having fox dens in the yard. I get reported to the city because of my tall 'weeds'. Neighbors suck.

[@kellykramer7629]

This looks so much better than just a plain green lawn

[@corekilla]

The grass lawn was “invented” by the personal landscaper to Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Rothchilds, etc. really makes you think.

[@CallMeRabbitzUSVI]

​@@corekilla Actually, Lawns came from European royal estates. They had groundskeeper too keep the lawn cut and trim. And sometimes had peacocks for flourishment. This dates back to the 1600s

[@nepsyasudra3262]

​@CallMeRabbitzUSVI The Spartans of ancient Greece kept well maintained grass lawns supposedly. If so than it goes much deeper than that.

[@kellykramer7629]

History tends to rhyme. Fads come and go. I guess that includes lawns as well.

[@1972Ray]

@@corekilla Thats not quite true. The first cut lawns appeared in the 16th century in England. It was a show of wealth, because having land that doesn't get a crop was uncommon. closely cut lawns came about in the 17th century, and only the wealthy could afford the hands to scythe and weed. Immigrants from Europe brought the idea to the US, as well as the grass seeds themselves. Even then, only the very wealthy had manicured lawns. The advent of the lawn mower brough it to the masses.

[@devleigh]

Funnily enough, a lot of the native plants you’d find in a Native Pollinator garden would be labeled weeds by “traditional” lawn loving gardeners/corps.

[@blackburned]

Yeah when the reporters quickly added "but not planting weeds" at the end I was kind of like ummm lawn traditionalists would definitely refer to many native species (unfairly) as weeds

[@hoxiefam6731]

A weed just means a plant you don't want growing there. So anything can become a weed even ones that people intentionally plant! I recommend to be intentional about letting natives take over the yard. I had to aggressively weed out ones that wanted to take over so that the ones with a lot of value could thrive.

[@rwild9356]

"Weed" is slang, anything can be a weed if you don't like it. For native plant gardeners, weeds are usually invasive non-native plants, like English ivy; spreads everywhere, kills trees, looks tacky, always covered in dust...

[@devleigh]

@@hoxiefam6731 V true, but given bloom windows and how wild a native garden can look, if managed correctly… I still think most ppl w lawns works think it’s “weedy”

[@louisegogel7973]

EXACTLY!!! And many are healers or edible or both for humans.

[@TheGonebald]

I have been landscaping with natives here in central Texas for about 5 years. My yard has met all the criteria to become a certified wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. This has been a great experience. I’ve met so many neighbors who stop and take pictures. I live in a neighborhood with an HOA so I have to maintain a small amount of grass. That is not the case with my backyard. This fall I plan to reduce my current lawn by 60% only enough for my dogs to have a little.

[@kristaadduci2986]

I'm in East Texas and recently moved where I now have a huge yard to transform....any suggestions on where to start? Part of my yard is septic. Would love suggestions. 😊

[@everythingmatters6308]

​​@@kristaadduci2986Start with Brad Lancaster's book, Water Harvesting for Drylands Volume 2. Understand your rain flow situation and how to manage it and design for it before you do your planting. It's helpful even if you don't live in Arizona. He has a channel here and a TedX talk.

[@naturalnashuan]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@kristaadduci2986 First, learn what type of habitat the land was before humans "developed" it. Natural yards work best if you don't fight the geology. Look for organizations that teach about native species. There might be seed swaps, native plant growers, and local groups. I live in New Hampshire, the State government has a tree and shrub nursery and the prices are very low. I physically removed the grass from my yard. please avoid manmade chemicals, they'll kill the biome. I let native mosses and ferns take over with my assistance. Personally, Iet trees sprout and keep them if they're not invasive. I prune them a lot to keep them bush-sized. It's important to learn to identify invasive plants so you can control them. So, the first step is to learn the history, hydology, and biology of your location. Congratulations on your land!

[@phil20_20]

HOA's are problematic at best. I have to deal with the city weed ordnance...

[@Nclk619]

Not lazy, conscious, green, ideal

[@aaronbrandon2321]

Lazy in the sense you have to fight nature to keep a lowcut perfect lawn, work with nature and it can manage itself, all that struggle is no longer needed.

[@LoveInYourMouth]

Very mindful, very demure

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

@@aaronbrandon2321 And in the process of fighting nature, they're killing the environment. It takes tons of water to keep the grass growing. The pesticides kill all of the beneficial bugs. All for that to land up with a green lawn that does nothing for anyone. I don't have a natural garden, but I do have a vegetable garden and always find it nuts when I see my neighbors with an acre of land or more and doing nothing with it. This year, we got so many cucumbers that we donated 20 lbs to our local food pantry. We gave a ton more away to friends and family. Imagine if everyone did that. It would benefit everyone.

[@RelentlessPedigree]

@@LoveInYourMouth ... sheeeeep

[@arcanondrum6543]

Eddie Bernays would love to hear the word "Lazy". It takes the whole idea of spending too much money on a lawn tractor and lawn chemicals, then spending an afternoon creating noise pollution for some sterile green at "Regulation" height and turns it on its head. "You're not a conformist, you're a go-getter (wasting precious time on a lawn tractor)".

[@jadedrealist]

Our obsession with green lawns is ridiculous, and HOA's that enforce it are idiots.

[@tompatchak8706]

Yeah, look up the history of Green laws. They started out as rich people in England.

[@hoxiefam6731]

Makes sense then why most people who want a manicured lawn seem very snobbish!

[@Americansikkunt]

@@tompatchak8706in that case, we should protect green lawns as it is our heritage

[@Americansikkunt]

@@hoxiefam6731because they’re English descendant?

[@joseenoel8093]

They've nothing better to do than ruin people's lives!

[@LaconicMuse378]

YAAAY! Healthy yards have finally made it to the news!

[@kwhitehomcd]

It's a beautiful trend that supports nature.

[@spirituallyrich1744]

Not any trend is beautiful. People need to learn to be themselves and keep everything balanced.

[@jasminesingh1863]

​@@spirituallyrich1744......what?

[@AfraidMonsters]

I already knew leaves are good for soil and natural, obviously.. but it's not like my mother or anyone else I tell will listen. Why everyone wants a conformative, unspecial ununique lawn is beyond me. When I own a house one day I basically want a mini forest as my lawn, but less trees. And then some cleared stone paths from the door onward.

[@LadyCoyKoi]

I've been doing this for over 5 years. It makes being outside less hot with the plants and with a functioning irrigation system it can be 10 degrees less. It also provides natural entertainment... bees, dragonflies, butterflies, lizards, frogs, etc they give so much, plus they act as natural pesticides against mosquitoes, slugs, centipedes, and other unwanted critters. My garden is mostly medicinal herbs and flowers, as well as cooking herbs. I want to get more, such as aloe vera, hibiscus, awapuhi, avocado and plantain. It's not just to have something to look at that is beautiful and natural, but also being more self sustainable with growing ones own food and medicine, as much of it as one can. It saves money and time. So nice there are people out there who are doing the same and that it has an actual name. How does one join this organization?

[@hoxiefam6731]

Started my homegrown national park last yr and the diversity of bees, caterpillars and butterflies increased substantially. Most people plant things that are non native and don't do anything for the wildlife (especially if they spray it with pesticides!).

[@dawnssful]

That is so amazing.

[@TheLordOfNothing]

That's the thing about neighborhoods and cities and then the countryside. I'm a country boy, I grew up in the Appalachian mountains and other parts of rural Georgia. Fox squirrels, buzzards, otters, foxes, deer, armadillos, coyotes...it goes on. None of that exists in suburban Atlanta.

[@jenc8953]

I went native in my front yard 3 yrs ago. Most neighbors love it and especially the women, but there are 2 men on my block that completely hate it and have called the city on us and have been literally harassing us. People can be so ignorant and close minded. It’s mind boggling how disconnected humans have become from the land.

[@devleigh]

Keep up the good work! You’re on the right side of history.

[@earthsystem]

That's awesome. I began to wild my front-yard 2-1/2 years ago, nature does most of the work for me, I've received enthusiastic feedback from numerous neighbors, NO negative feedback.

[@dorkygirlsurvivalist3482]

I have an urban homestead on my backyard using permaculture and native plants, it is very beautiful all but what man (wonderful neighbor) hates it. But he still hates anything other than manicured lawn in front.

[@francestaylor9156]

Men complaining like that is so embarrassing.

[@jamesnelson5759]

The men harassing you are ignorant, and know nothing but suburban “farming” - grass lawns. Just let them go. If they are truly bothering you get a lawyer or call the sheriff or both. Keep up the good work!

[@ZZ_Trop]

My mother's a pioneer of this movement. Growing up we never had grass in the backyard. It was always flower beds. That was over 30 years ago and she's still at it. She moved from Yorkville to Florida and has the most heavily planted house in the neighborhood.

[@linkly9272]

Yorkville, IL?

[@earthsystem]

I began to wild my front-yard 2-1/2 years ago, nature does most of the work, I get enthusiastic feedback from numerous neighbors, NONE negative.

[@sararenee4940]

❤ I love that for you. I just started to plant native myself.

[@bogtrottername7001]

Same for me here in the Finger Lakes of New York !

[@lanialost1320]

You are so fortunate with your neighbors -- in my suburban subdivision in Massachusetts, despite my greeting them as they walk by, none of my neighbors have had any interest in my native plant transformation of my yard. The ONLY people who have raved about it are a couple from Europe who are on a temporary corporate assignment and are living round the corner. She from France, and he from Italy. They walk by my yard at least 2 times weekly -- they tell me how much they love the naturalistic appearance of my yard, and how much they hate the sterile American ideas of landscaping. The love the look of my native plantings (shrubs, perennials, herbs, etc) and all my natural landscaping features such as natural stone walls with crevices for wildlife and plants, nursery logs, etc.

[@JasbirSingh-zj1fg]

@@lanialost1320 As long as there is even one person in the world who appreciates your native plantings, it is worth it. In fact, it would be worth it even if no humans show appreciation, because the wildlife, and even the plants, do appreciate all the flora.

[@doggodoggo3000]

I've always hated lawns. I used to cut grass when i was a teenager and always felt like it was a waste of resources and manhours. I love this movement of getting rid of lawns and pointing out the variety of problems they cause. this bs ties into the housing problem too. there is no shortage of land, but we have bad zoning and laws about how far the house as to be from the road and stuff.

[@lindah.1104]

There is a finite amount of land. And land with available water even more limited.

[@Honojane12]

Personally, I've never had any use for lawns. I would definately do this if I lived in town, but I live in the country where nature has it's way more times than not! It's not the native plants that give us heck. It's the imports such as Scotch Broom, and Tansy Butterweed. I wish I was younger. I'd turn the whole place into native plants and food forest, but I'm 75 and just enjoy what I already have.

[@vivalaleta]

You're a wonderful person.

[@jcriverside]

Even if you don't do it, you can tell your peers about it so they don't stop people from doing it. Love that you have this view.

[@TheMinor7th]

Lawn's were created to sell fertilizer. They were a status symbol to show that you had land that wasn't needed to farm.

[@stevennguyen4993]

Lawns are a status symbol cause the upper class had them. Not so much to sell fertilizer, but a statement to estate ownership. You see old mansions in Europe with lawns, finely-shaped hedges, metal benches, stone retaining walls, fountains, and statues. Most folks try to imitate that. Things like white wedding dresses and white bread also had their beginnings in the high upper class

[@TheMinor7th]

@@stevennguyen4993 it was originally to show that you didn’t even need to cultivate the land. Do your dang homework. And stop repeating me

[@joseenoel8093]

Wow great insight, I think non-native plants were encouraged as to keep nature/bugs away, how selfish and boring just like them! I worked in urban forestry ahead of my time now my son's an arborist it's wonderful!❤😊

[@joseenoel8093]

The older generation treated you that you had no business outside unless you were weeding or watering, EU gardens don't belong here, shame on Scotland, those highlands once had trees!

[@KittyKeypurr]

Exactly this. AND to force people out of self sustainability into dependency 😉 (green stamps sweetened the deal)

[@Elliana2002]

"It matters, thats the best way to put it." Is such a good statement

[@UniquelySustainable]

I cannot wait to do this at my mom's house. I don't have a yard but I have a decent sized patio that I garden on, I love planting flowers for the the wildlife. Unfortunately I live in an HOA community and even though we live in the desert they spend tons of money and resources on large lawns around the complex. I am trying to change this and get them to convert to native desert landscape but its so difficult. Everyone is a boomer and I think that generation is extra obsessed with lawns.

[@letitgoletitbe]

I'm a boomer, not obsessed with lawns!

[@UniquelySustainable]

@@letitgoletitbe certainly not all but whenever I bring the idea up to family or neighbors they look at me crazy lol! But I definitely know boomers leading the way for native lawns and garden. I just think the green lawns are a lot less important to following generations as a whole.

[@gcxred4kat9]

In Florida HOAs can't stop you from planting a Florida Friendly lawn, which means mostly native. Check into your laws, go to your local county extension.

[@louisaruth]

you are doing the work. if you havent already, check out crime pays but botany doesnt

[@FireSilver25]

Buffalo grass and blue grama are native lawn grasses! Also delight tolerant once established. Maybe tell be amenable to replacing if they’re gonna save on after bills? Yarrow is another great option

[@jenniferfurtado4469]

Native plants attract and feed native bugs. Native Songbirds, a population of birds in decline, have way more to eat. Native Butterflies too. It’s really powerful to change from grass and imported plants to natives.

[@PersephonePersonified]

I was in this process 3 years ago, we had one of the largest Grand Mesquite trees in our area. This thing was massive, it looked like the root of 10 trees... We had half an acre also with 4 pines, 1 palm, 1 20' Saguaro, 2 Ocotillo, 2 Azaleas, 1 Honeysuckle, 6 9' Bougainvilleas, 2 9' Cassia Silver Sennas (w/3 3' Cassia Silver Sennas I grew from seed to soil), 1 Mandarin Citrus, 1 Tangelo, 1 Acacia, 2 water spots, and a pool. Sadly we were forced to downsize during covid, and I miss my garden everyday. Our neighbor at the end of the block has his Nat'l Park Curb Mark. So I still get to experience it's beauty on daily walks or driving by... Nature needs reprieve and refuge in a city scape, providing that space is so humbling. 😊💚

[@bogtrottername7001]

If you did it once you can do it again !

[@PersephonePersonified]

@@bogtrottername7001 I'm trying my best, but the sun/ weather is eating everything. Multiple Sclerosis in Arizona can be challenging as well... It doesn't stop me from trying though! 🌴 🌳 🌺 🌼 ⚘

[@dsyy90210]

i killed my lawn 1.5 years ago. so happy with how lush it is and seeing all the wildlife i didn't even know we had

[@georgeolsen5042]

"the growing trend of not torturing yourself by trying to grow a grass from another fucking continent and growing plants that were already there before humanity"

[@Mr39knuck]

Generally, don’t agree with using the F word especially on such a civil platform as this, but you have a point 😂

[@msegura6372]

Need to curse?

[@tux_duh]

​​@@Mr39knucksince when has KZbin been civil?? You know most neonazis are born right here right?

[@Ywabag]

​@@msegura6372Yes this shit makes me angry as fuck

[@emeraldcrusade5016]

*European settlers. Native Americans were there for thousands of years.

[@lucindabreeding]

We started doing this in north Texas this year. You really can design a beautiful yard or even a small spot in your yard with this in mind. Less turf grass and more native plants that bloom, or grow and provide shade and habitat for our wildlife. When you are used to Bermuda, St. Augustine, and ryegrasses, removing those and adding in plants can be scary. But some of our neighbors are doing it beautifully and I hope our inspiration honors theirs.

[@landomilknhoney]

I think that this is absolutely lovely! Don't be a weed, be a wildflower!🌸

[@sparra3819]

ooh, that is quotable! 🌼

[@jackstone4291]

So many spaces to use. Roadside verges for mini streams and ponds and native planting.

[@barb24427]

Been going native and pesticide free for the last 7 years. I have soooo many bugs, bees and birds now!!! I love it!

[@studiosandi]

I love this story... This is the way everyone should be living.

[@louisegogel7973]

Add to this garden plan… for all roadways of every size to have over and underpasses added to existing ones, or made separately, that are substantial wildlife corridors. This would not only help the animals avoid vehicles, it would save vehicle ps and people from wildlife crashes! It’s a win win for both.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@louisegogel7973 Yes, Wild corridors everywhere connecting wild areas and parks!

[@Jamie-h5b]

I've seen a few of those on youtube. Theyr'e amazing. And the number of car accidents involving wildlife have plummeted in those areas.

[@jcriverside]

And public food forests on public land & even vacant lots in cities - there is no reason not to have native plants be the default, it' can be especially helpful in flood zones and heat islands too.

[@masterofthecontinuum]

While we're at it, we should also let the medians grow. Spread some native wildflower seeds and then leave it alone. How much time is wasted mowing them? We essentially have lawns across the entire interstate highway system and there's no need for it.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@masterofthecontinuum And if you have ever been to Texas you know how beautiful wildflowers by the highways can be!

[@WhereisDreamland]

Yay!! This is the future!! Let’s help our world and fellow creatures! It helps us in retort. I think it’s beautiful!! 🌸🌱🍃

[@tg_ny]

This really does matter. I remember the diversity of wild plants we used to have growing in the neighborhood. I used to observe the variety of butterflies, moths and other insects which used to be there. I only see a small fraction of what used to be around. Nurseries tend to focus more on human eye candy or attracting a small variety of pollinators and not much on those plants and trees which are the host plants for catapillars. Vegetation like this also cools the local environment, especially after the sun goes down.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

I'm all for this! I'd use native edible stuff as much as possible, and a lot of medicinal plants. And veggies. Hopefully stuff that doesn't need to be watered. Zero scaping.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@comfortablynumb9342 I learned the hard way that many medicinal plants are European and they can become invasive...

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@eleonorabartoli2225 true. They can be tropical and grow like crazy too. Containers can help. You definitely don't want mint plants outside of a pot, for instance. Juanilama from Central America grows very fast and spreads in warm weather too.

[@ElegantHope]

@@comfortablynumb9342 if you can afford it, it also helps to have a greenhouse which both helps make care for the non-native plants easier by meeting their needs year round and also can help keep them contained more.

[@naturalnashuan]

Moss is like a sponge. It doesn't normally need watering because it holds it's own and pulls water from the air. It can help keep the ground soft for native insects, like most bees, to burrow into. So, if you have native moss, I recommend adding it.

[@parrotcracker6629]

It's like an English cottage garden. I love it.

[@Person11406]

It’s not, because this America. Reclaiming our native and local environments and NOT forcing them to be like European Eurocentric landscapes.

[@DoriterEater]

The wildlife is so rewarding, I get the coolest critters!

[@TinaWindham-r3n]

Me,2. My family gets bigger every day it seems. I have a bad relationship with lawnmowers so I’m all for this.

[@crowpvpgod4537]

My family re did our front yard 3 years ago and back yard in April. Maybe 1/3rd acre. We have so many colonies of animals. 40+ hummingbirds, 25-40 types of various finches, owls, bats, lizards, tons of pollinators. It truly does matter and make a difference.

[@louisegogel7973]

Bless you all for this! I love it.

[@eastbayflora]

use native plants only please

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@crowpvpgod4537 I just scattered a bag of organic sunflower seed on about 1/4 of my backyard this spring and I have never seen so many different kinds of birds!

[@everythingmatters6308]

​@@eastbayfloraSometimes it's good to keep showy annuals like marigolds and zinnias mixed in so the neighbors don't complain.

[@eastbayflora]

@@everythingmatters6308 nah fuck the neighbors. Native biodiversity is the most important especially in urban areas where its been destroyed. Its a point in time where we have to shift towards putting the environment above human desires. And also, if you really want most bees and butterflies in your garden, native plants will attract them

[@sh9downonme71]

One is for nature itself and all the pollinators but two is for human beings. Think of the noise pollution brought on by all these grass equipment motors. The chemicals that have to be sprayed for that perfect lawn that's useless.

[@Mr39knuck]

You said it! It seems like the guys with the lawnmowers and the leaf blowers Follow me around everywhere I go. It’s ridiculous and unsettling.

[@renee1741]

We need this all over the world!!

[@Zyrean7007]

In my area we call it the Backyard Habitat program. Certification is offered for gardens with a certain percentage of local plants. The amount of wild life the local plants attract is fun to observe. Way more exciting than lawn, and a lot less water and mowing required to keep things green.

[@dictionaryzzz]

Its honestly very rewarding just fills me with joy seeing something I planted being used by some other life form for food/shelter/place to raise young. I am slowly turning my 1.75 acres of grass into gardens but I am trying to do it while making it also looking aesthetically pleasing. I am also not a purist but I think anything other than turf is better. I also think there are thousands of acres of highway mediums that can have converted into meadows and even those water catchment basins you see everywhere can become wetlands supporting wildlife and purifying runoff.

[@Kate-tc5uu]

Just the clips of native bees and variety in the first 45 seconds show how cool this is, and how well it works

[@ForLitenSvenska]

Thank you for sharing this story! Also “weeds” are a catch all term and therefore misleading as well as meaningless. They’re still plants, what matters is keeping out agressive, non-native (and invasive!) species. Most weeds are simply plants that people think ill of because they aren’t as showy or beautiful as some flowering plants.

[@AnjaliNair-n6t]

Such a beautiful way to bring nature back home to us. Or more so find our way back home to nature within the practicalities of current day living. Let this movement thrive.

[@louisegogel7973]

I think that is the best perspective you have written here… that we humans are finding our way home to Nature at last.

[@denamathews2363]

Making our lands more beautiful and bountiful.... One yard at a time...❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@KingerlySHolt]

THIS THIS RIGHT HERE IS AMAZING!

[@CampingforCool41]

We need to make it illegal for HOA’s to not allow people to do this.

[@louisegogel7973]

Yes!

[@gcxred4kat9]

In Florida it actually is. It's called The Florida Friendly yard and HOAs can't stop you from implementing it.

[@zenwilds2911]

I wish I could have this kind of yard, but my HOA sprays pesticides themselves. Horrible

[@jcriverside]

@@gcxred4kat9 - amazing, actually. We don't hear much good news about legalities in FL.

[@ES-7766]

So much beauty! I’m sure many of these plants are water savers as well.

[@rickwilber7536]

I am happy to see people getting on board with this, I hate grass and have always tried to have more plants that grass every where I have live, my new 1 acre home will have no grass unless it’s ornamental or wild, better to watch nature than flat boring green lawn

[@catecurl3790]

I ❤ this! & in fact weve all been considering & discussing growing a " wildflower meadow" in back.

[@naturalnashuan]

Please avoid buying "wildflower seed mixtures." They often include invasive species. They aren't created for your exact habitat. Please learn from your state what plants are threatened and need habitat and which ones are banned. Go to the parks in your area and see what is growing in wild sectors. There are seed swaps. My local library has a designated area all year for giving and taking seeds.

[@RebeccaMorris-v6m]

Everyone should try to garden more. It's so relaxing and is great exercise. We all need to chill out and 'touch grass' more.

[@awildapproach]

Love these gardens in this feature! I'm working on my own at my house. Still a work in progress, but I'm loving the journey along the way!

[@busybeeteach]

'one person's weed is another person's wildflower is another person's salad'

[@louisegogel7973]

❤❤❤

[@trumpetingangel]

Proud participant in the Homegrown National Park!

[@RoseNZieg]

going native is the right thing. it saves lots of use of water and is good for the wildlife.

[@Robin.Hollinger85]

Beautiful! I am working on doing this for my yard. I'm so happy people are realizing that lawns are boring and wild plants are beautiful.

[@merk9569]

I am converting my new 0.5 acre backyard to native wildflowers this fall. The 0.2 acre front “lawn” is an assortment of weeds, some I have never seen before, in various shades of green. I haven’t decided what I am going to do with it. My neighborhood is traditional with beautiful green grass lawns. I need to research what native ground covers could work. 😊

[@lebasue4178]

If you have access to someone who knows local species, check and see what you’ve already got growing. I found I had bad invasives but also beloved local wildflowers and tree saplings. I have several gorgeous trees now!

[@louisegogel7973]

Look up the top ten or twenty edible and medicinal weeds… I bet you’ll find a few of them in your front lawn. Once you understand their purpose and power, you’ll be able to explain it to others. Plantain, either broad or narrow leaf, (not the tropical banana), which grows similarly to Dandelion is a powerful detoxifier. I make pesto out of it along with dandelion leaves and other wild edibles in my yard. A chewed up poultice can speedily help heal a bee sting or tick bite or cut.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@merk9569 Just FYI, from experience, perennial grass is the worst thing and will choke everything you plant and especially seedlings.

[@whataboyt]

Good coverage folks, appreciate it. It's an important topic.

[@tompatchak8706]

I lived in Oak Creek , Wisconsin for a few years. I had a large “yard”. Oak creek has exploded and expanded so much in the past 10 years that part of that city is unrecognizable from only a few years ago. Stuff in drink of the house was trees and a flower garden that I redid myself. Then the 3/4 acre field next door was just grass. Me cutting it, taking hours out of my weekend sucked. So I decided to let it grow out as well as add wildflower seeds and a big ass garden. I had so many mini pumpkins that every kid and teacher in my son’s school (not the class), the whole school was able to take one home. That’s 350 mini pumpkins. I called the Wisconsin DNR for help but they said since it’s only a 3/4 acre there wasn’t any new funding for small yards. So I just let it grow, added more wildflower seeds and made it like field that you could walk your dog in and walk around. The neighbor across the street hated it because he wanted his grass to be perfectly green and he cut it three times a week. He was worried that my flowers were gonna go into his yard. He complained all the time to my wife and she cut everything down. Now I live in Alsip and I’m trying that again. This time in large pots just to start out

[@svetlanapil8089]

I'm outraged with neighbors like yours! So, they have the right to have it artificial, and you don't have the right to have it natural? And your wife... I would be so mad at my husband for doing that! He used to complain about not having perfect lawn, but now he's seeing that my efforts at improving soil situations and making a yard into alive gardens are slowly becoming real. It's still scraggly, since the planting hasn't been here even a year, but I pointed out all of the batches of lupine and other wild flowers that are coming into our garden where the lawn part should be and it made him happy. My flower patch looks very happy, too, and I get compliments from passerby all the time. I'm critical to myself and see what else could be done to improve it further, but the base is laid out.

[@bogtrottername7001]

Sorry to hear that she was so easily intimidated by an ignorant neighbor !

[@joseenoel8093]

Hi, I'm a chick forest technician from Montreal, majored in Sylviculture, way to go everyone, let nature in your yard it has nowhere else to go, I started doing this 25 yrs ago in Pte-Claire, it was war now the city is begging you to go wild, even encouraging leaves left over the winter, yay!

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@joseenoel8093 Yes, that absurd compulsion of bagging leaves! They are beautiful instead! And,as I remember from Doug Tallamy's wonderful lecture, they are also full of creatures planning on the leaves to be their winter home!

[@gg-gn3re]

@@eleonorabartoli2225 also that is the direct cause of all the fireflies disappearing. They breed and lay eggs on all those leaves. Just leaving the leaves there you can see a surge in fireflies the next year

[@Atomic9t9]

Inspiring and beautiful

[@leilegion]

In a world heating up, the best defense will always be trees and plants that gives shades and keep the air cooler. Ntm, its nice to see wildlife coming by to visit your own yard.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

Thank you so much for covering this! I rescue native plants from future development sites: they are free and don't need any water once established. You just have to go look for them after it rains, and especially in the spring before they cut the grass, a practice that just makes invasive weeds take over everything. Also, most of the time you cannot see these beautiful native flowers from the car either, I noticed them only because the grass was not cut during covid, and the plants were able to fully develop. That field was magical, now it is a parking lot.

[@mgsbrowning]

Do you have to ask for permission to go on land that will be developed? Have you ever been questioned? I am very interested in doing the same kind of thing

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@mgsbrowning I ask when I know who the owner is, usually because it is next to the land; otherwise, if there is no fence I just go in very early mornings, Sunday mornings are definitely the best because nobody is around, and it is peaceful and no car noise or fumes. Many places all weekends are good really. Where I am it is very dry so after rains early morning works best for the plants. A full size shovel also works the best, I have one with a short handle so it is less visible. Best time is early spring, fall is ok if you are careful, summers are hard to keep the plants alive in the sun, you have to give them excellent soil and a tent so they never get direct sun until established, and keep them moist all the time. Good luck, have fun! To id them you can ask universities agricultural extensions, also some states wildflowers databases are great ( so you know which are natives and which invasive...).🌻💛

[@mgsbrowning]

@@eleonorabartoli2225 Thanks, I am in Michigan and a development is going up near a stream corridor. There is a population of Hollow Joe Pye in this development, which is a critically imperiled species here in MI, and it’s all going to be destroyed for more cookie cutter unaffordable housing 😕. It’s all so maddening.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@mgsbrowning Take it to the city and county and local orgs for native wildflowers, bees. If you let people know with social media, especially Facebook, you'll be surprised how many people will be interested. Students orgs too. And maybe at the state level people dealing with endangered species? Also, master gardeners, some are for natives a lot, and Joe Pye is one of the plants that are always on the natives lists for gardeners. I really hope you are able to save them. And you can always ask the developers if their plan could be modified, after all it could be a marketing asset. If that is not possible, I would collect all the seeds you can now, and if they are still there in the early spring, go get them, if they are going to be destroyed. You can do it, you can save them. When the bulldozers come they will scrape the ground and shred the plants, it is very traumatic to experience and you will be glad you saved them. Long shovel, cardboard boxes with handles, luggage carts, Sundays mornings...you will be surprised how many you will save...your yard will fit a lot more than you think...🌸

[@jcriverside]

i've seen some content creators do guerilla native planting/transplanting all over towns - it's great!

[@jaysreetad9980]

I personally hate the lawn, water wastage and too much work, still oops dull. What about HOA? Ours won’t allow to plant any

[@naturalnashuan]

Fight the HOAs! Eventually enough people will teach them about the environment ( and reducing maintenance costs from water and mowing and such) and they will modernize.

[@jcriverside]

You've gotta take over those HOA's and/or change the laws locally so they don't have those kinds of powers.

[@sherlhoeppner2392]

Seems you could at least do your backyard!

[@sherlhoeppner2392]

I just moved last May(in Texas) I have grass in my front yard, boxwood-- but now starting to add other flowering plants. I started a small wildflower garden on my Easter side yard-- it has been a lot of fun!! I hope it looks even better next year! This year I had sunflowers, bachelor buttons, lantana, 3 colors of verbena, natural grasses, bluebonnets, echinacia(coneflowers), pineapple salvia, marigolds, purple sage bushes, Mexican flaming vine, buffalo burr, Greg's Mist, red salvia. I also planted petunias and old maids. The deer eat everything, they have been pesky! They kept eating my 2 wisteria vines, so I'm going to give those to my sister. They won't eat oleanders or irises. They did nibble on my yellow Esperanza. I'm just trying new things and hoping to build on the successful ones. Maybe I can be on "the natl list" in another year or two?!

[@Bob-en1ge]

I have a little less grass every year. I planted 13 conifers and a couple birch trees and 7 ostrich firns in 1991 on my 1/2 acre lot. I now have firns from one back corner to the opposite side in the front. A lot of moss under the trees that are now mature. I used to use a 18 horse riding mower, now just a little battery powered push mower.

[@autumnstoptwo]

🎉🎉🎉 a win for the ecosystem!

[@jhouriet]

gardens in this piece are carefully managed. not low maintenance. absolutely worthwhile!

[@sweetwillow]

My surrounding neighbors rarely landscape and it usually looks like a mess of trees and bushes, but I have noticed, for a suburban area, there are lots of wild critters around. Raccoons, squirrels, skunks, bats, cats, owls, dragonflies! I love to see what the animals are up to, so now I see the messy over grown yards as a good thing.

[@gcxred4kat9]

Emerson said "another man's weed is another man's flower". I'm in The Florida Native Plant Society, every state has their own native plant society and they can help you a lot. Consider joining, they do good work. Wildlife will love you for it.

[@cynthiaa2644]

I love the search tool on the FNPS website. It makes finding the native plants for my county so easy.

[@TaLeng2023]

Now that's a good trend but HOAs hate it.

[@bogtrottername7001]

so --- HOAs need to be educated.

[@grimble4564]

That's how you know it's a good trend

[@TaLeng2023]

@@grimble4564 I swear HoAs are the Antichrist, they hate everything that is good 🤣

[@jcriverside]

@@grimble4564 - True, what the HOA likes is usually not good. One day, if not already, HOA will lower the value of a property.

[@sharriceowens913]

I love this I hope it becomes a trend that last forever❤

[@DRACOS1313]

i have been doing this for years and the Bee's love it

[@scoobydoo5447]

I’m all for it. I live in a 1950/1960’s neighborhood and everyone has the same front lawn, a few trees, and evergreens along the foundations. Add some character, plant some flowers.

[@johnlaforte700]

Hope it takes hold. Great idea.🎉

[@Norse94]

I live in the USA now but I’m surprised on how little home gardens there is. It’s mostly just lawn here.

[@bogtrottername7001]

We are changing that - join us !

[@garylefevers]

I really miss my old home. Planting trees and flowers and whatnot. I think this is brilliant.

[@AIvey-qs1so]

Love this! If you are lucky enough to not have restrictions on your yard, its a wonderful little thing you can do for wildlife. Even a little at a time

[@SeanWarren]

Recently I have heard a lot of people complain that they never see lightening bugs...maybe it is because we have made our lawns these sterile green carpets. This was very interesting. Thanks for posting.

[@krisdiperna3929]

Pesticides are also sadly killing off the lighting bugs.

[@threeriversforge1997]

One bit of counsel I give folks trying to bring back some native ecosystem in their yards is to try and be as formal in your design as possible. Too many, I think, believe that "rewilding" means throwing in dozens of different species and letting them duke it out amongst themselves. And what that leads to is an overall look that's rather unkempt. Along the sidewalk, for example, a 'hedge' of Prairie Dropseed "Tara" gives passerby a sense that the yard is contained and planned, that there's rhyme and reason to it all.

[@NotGoddess]

I concur with this. I have a prairie strip where I let the plants "duke it out" but in front of that is an area with lower-growing plants (strawberries, phlox, violets, pussytoes) that forms a buffer and lets people know "this is intentional". I always worry someone will think it weedy but I always hear compliments - esp. on the wild sunflowers.

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@NotGoddess How do you like that Pussytoes? Is it pretty robust? Good at keeping weeds from growing up through it?

[@tigerstallion]

oh no. not unkempt. my eyes will cry if they dont see squares and smooth surfaces

[@zman4444]

Have 10 acres, never sprayed chemicals, never fertilized, kept 1/2 full native. After 3 years all kinds of animals appeared, just got flock of ducks, have sand hill cranes nesting every year.

[@stepper8584]

Super awesome! I have been thinking the same last years, with everybody puting exotic plants, bushes and trees in their garden, it's messing with the little wild nature we got left in my country. Good to see people actually putting native plants in their garden! I will start doing the same even though I have a tiny garden

[@naturalnashuan]

Studies have found that even little natural gardens are making a difference keeping some animal species alive. You also influence the opinions of people who see your little garden. I let neighborhood kids play in my yard when I'm with them. I teach them about sciences gently and let them handle bugs and little solar lights and play in mud. Amazingly, no parents have complained, they appreciate it. Even, "Mommy Igot bitten by a centipede and played in worm poop!" was something that made Mommy proud of her son. "Your first bite!"😊

[@stepper8584]

@@naturalnashuan Nice! 😊😊😊

[@someyoungguyjohnson7239]

Yay! I love trends. They come and go. Especially when they go.

[@notfooled6232]

ill be glad when angsty ignorant comments are no longer trendy

[@LITTLEMUSTANGFILLY]

This makes me happy

[@IFFB714]

As a gardener with 12 years of work under my belt, this is one of the greatest trends I've ever seen Americans embrace.

[@Peridotlight]

OMG! Love love love ❤️! Thank you! I had done this same thing in my homes/yards through the Wildlife Habitat Certification Program. Will research this. What beautiful gardens!

[@earthsystem]

Okay but anyone can do this You don't need any expert or certificate program just do it. Don't be all hung up--nature likes it

[@Peridotlight]

@@earthsystem Yes, true. We do it out of want (want that kind of garden), need (to abandon monoculture perfect green lawn), and love (of natural environments). What learning about the certification programs (in my case) did was sort of introduce some order and discipline to the want, need, and love. It provided guidance (to me at least) to be aware of what I need to incorporate into my garden to make more of a difference. As to the “park” designation, I think getting that little rectangular sign/plaque on display at least signals to any skeptical neighbors that no, I am not letting my garden/yard go … I’m maintaining this look, don’t worry. 😅

[@GaiaCarney]

Native plant gardens buzz with native pollinators 🐝🐞🦋 Birds love it, too, when it goes to seed.

[@kurtzwar729]

7 years ago I planted a native forest in my yard in WA state. 75 species, over 400 plants. The conifers are now 22-25' tall and habitat for birds is everywhere. Ditch lawns. Go native plants.

[@capenlopen1]

Excellent spotlight on these beautiful gardens. These are fantastic!🦋

[@adriane8565]

I've been doing this and now I've got warblers, towhees, sparrows, pigeons, hummingbirds, the occasional falcon, ravens, mockingbirds, possums, rats, snakes, and sometimes toads in my yard already. I made something along the lines of a savanna or prairie type environment in my yard

[@explorerf7]

This was beautiful ❤

[@Exodus239]

We call ours Meadow Arc.. a rewilded food forest on a 1/7 acre suburban yard in a 1950s neighborhood Fresno . The pay off? Food:) Hummingbirds, sparrows, butterflies etc etc do not just visit here.. this is their home!

[@kosycat1]

I started tunring my parents backyard into a food prrest 10 years ago not its mostly fruit trees,and no veggie garden left. lots of mulberries planted by the birds. I need to get some paw paws

[@vivalaleta]

Food forests are the best.

[@HoosierDaddy_]

It looks great! I've done the same thing and the community loves it. Now these native beauties are self sustainable. No more toxic chemicals going into the water supply. Color all year long. Plus the amazing return of butterflies, hummingbirds, and mantises is so cool. The "Prarie State" only has a few hundred acres left of original Prarie. Keep up the great work!

[@katharine5606]

I am part of this movement, and besides the beautiful flora, it is so enjoyable to see the fauna- birds, bees, butterflies come for a visit! It’s heartening to know you are helping wildlife because, as Doug Tallamy, one of the the founders of this movement states, we needs to have more plots of land spread about dedicated to native plants in order to establish a corridor for wildlife. Isolated national parks and such won’t suffice.

[@juniorr2646]

Wow this is more than just a beautiful garden,stepping outside you yard to hear,see,breathe nature is good for you soul

[@RePetesBees]

At the very least, people should consider a 50/50 grass and white clover. If you want universal, easy coverage, add in plantains. Now you have a spreading, self fertilizing, ground loosing composition that has a long bloom cycle with massive pollen and nectar yields that bees like. All while trapping morning dew and keeping the ground moister, for longer requiring much less water over the growing season (more drought tolerant)

[@ComradeStiv]

I tried to like this a thousand times but it just goes off and on. Thank _god_ the time has finally come; never thought I'd see the day. An _actual movement_ gaining momentum. Keep going everyone . . mainstream here we come! 🙌

[@wannabefarmerr]

Good! Now let’s do this at parks, walking areas, shopping areas and businesses too 😊

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@wannabefarmerr Yes, no reason why they cannot!

[@theblacknothing]

You don't want to do that. Trees and shrubs are a magnet for drug addicts and homeless. My town had beautiful wooded areas but some many homeless popped up in the last three years that the city has no choice but to cut them back. It's heartbreaking. They're so pretty but if users are building encampments there it becomes a matter of public safety.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@theblacknothing The city has many other choices, including providing shelter for its homeless citizens, instead of depriving all of its citizens of a natural environment!

[@theblacknothing]

@@eleonorabartoli2225 therein is the problem you can't force people into shelters. a lot of them just prefer to be outside.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

@@theblacknothing So far you can, we'll see if it goes to the supreme court. But shelters also do not have to be like they are today, many are unsafe. I am just saying cutting vegetation is a stupid and dead end idea.

[@rncine]

I think that’s the greatest, smartest move. I’m in Florida and I have done the same but my neighbors love their boring green flat grass.

[@sidilicious11]

This is the right direction!

[@christhedoll]

it is ignorant to call native plants weeds, I am changing my lawn over and it is so wonderful, I had so many pollinators and birds this year!

[@eugeniebreida]

Green canopies COOL one’s vicinity - no joke!