What if you had to choose between a) a yard that’s “manicured” and “tidy” and b) one that’s “overgrown,” “messy” and “unruly”? I’m guessing most of us, myself included, would select option a). Sadly, this isn’t just a hypothetical exercise. These are the terms typically used to distinguish traditional landscaping from sustainable gardening. A resource-guzzling, ecologically-barren yard consisting of turfgrass plus a handful of invasive shrubs will be described with positive-sounding adjectives that evoke cleanliness and respectability. Meanwhile, the labels assigned to a native plant garden that provides a parade of seasonal interest, supports wildlife, and generates thriving ecosystems will bring to mind irresponsibility and disorder.
Excellent post! There are so many prejudices to overcome, and the hardest, in my opinion, is our habit of looking at most of wildlife as "pests." The philosopher Richard Rory talked about changing language to change minds. An important and necessary first step to a healthier yard...and planet.
I’m one of those people who prefers messy and overgrown to manicured so I love how you present an alternative vocabulary as a way to talk to people about what’s possible with gardening and habitat restoration.
Yes, these old un-environmental standards for how a yard should look are so ingrained! It’s disturbing to me that the well-educated residents of my neighborhood, who you would think would be more knowledgeable about nature’s needs, still buy into the conventional “lawn care” services of companies like Virginia Green to obtain that artificial look in their yards, year after year.
Preach! Love your advocacy for native habitats and your ability to show photos of how beautiful they can be without any or with very little lawn. I still love a good topiary garden but now think of doing one surrounded by meadow rather than grass.
Excellent analysis of word usages. Interesting how they apply in so many areas, including politics…
Wonderful, Lolly! I was thinking of grass lawns as 'boring' but your descriptions are much better!
Excellent post! There are so many prejudices to overcome, and the hardest, in my opinion, is our habit of looking at most of wildlife as "pests." The philosopher Richard Rory talked about changing language to change minds. An important and necessary first step to a healthier yard...and planet.
I’m one of those people who prefers messy and overgrown to manicured so I love how you present an alternative vocabulary as a way to talk to people about what’s possible with gardening and habitat restoration.
Great post!
Yes, these old un-environmental standards for how a yard should look are so ingrained! It’s disturbing to me that the well-educated residents of my neighborhood, who you would think would be more knowledgeable about nature’s needs, still buy into the conventional “lawn care” services of companies like Virginia Green to obtain that artificial look in their yards, year after year.
Preach! Love your advocacy for native habitats and your ability to show photos of how beautiful they can be without any or with very little lawn. I still love a good topiary garden but now think of doing one surrounded by meadow rather than grass.