Neighbor asked why I was ripping out their nice grass last spring

Had to explain that turf grass is basically a dead zone for bugs and birds, and they actually got excited about planting milkweed instead. Has anyone else had a random chat like that turn into a whole block switching to native yards?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_eric4d ago

Twenty bucks says their neighbors thought they were having a midlife crisis at first. I converted my whole street after the HOA tried to fine me for "weeds", now three houses have bee lawns and one guy actually tore out his entire front yard for a prairie garden. Milkweed is like crack for monarchs, once you see those caterpillars munching it's hard to go back to plain grass.

keith2744d ago

Man I saw this video the other day from some university extension office about replacing lawns with native plants and it blew my mind. They said the average American lawn takes like 10,000 gallons of water a year to keep green. That's crazy when you think about it. A bee lawn or prairie garden drinks almost nothing compared to that. Plus those monarch caterpillars are picky eaters, they literally can't survive without milkweed. Its wild how one small change just ripples out and gets other people interested. Your HOA story gives me hope honestly, people really do come around when they see the bees and butterflies showing up.

casey8184d ago

Did the HOA actually try to fine you again after the prairie garden went in?