I have never understood lawn obsession. I can go a little further and declare -- I really hate big expansive lawns. The only places I want to see green turf grasses planted in mass are recreation parks, ball fields and golf courses. Come to think of it, I don't really like golf courses either if they are located in regions where green turf grass doesn't belong. A good example is the Southwest desert landscape, where water is scarce. I am drawing the distinction between turf grass and native grass because I love a good native midwestern grassland, a pretty oak or longleaf pine savannah of the South, or a flower/grass meadow planted anywhere. 

Railroad Park in Birmingham is a great example of how to use turf grass.

The park also features native grass meadows.

I think this feeling of disdain hit me when I was 11 years old and my parents bought a house with the biggest yard I have ever seen up to that point. My father thought he had a full service lawn crew in his four children and quickly put us all to work. We each had a square to mow. Sometimes I didn't mind walking 'round and 'round like a zombie. It gave me a chance to ponder, but most of my mowing time was spent thinking about how much I hated grass. My most challenging thought was to figure out the most efficient mowing pattern to quickly finish the task so I could go jump in the lake. 

As I grew up, I learned of many other reasons to hate lawns and now that I am an older and wiser 46 years of age, I think I can tell you with certainty that large residential lawns are no good. They are not useful to anybody or anything -- oh, except the landscape business (sorry, my brother). 

Turf grass is a high maintenance crop. Seed it, sod it, soak it, weed it, feed it, mow it, edge it, trim it, blow it, bag it, and then repeat. While doing all of that, you hurt your ears and your lungs by running the gas machines, spew pollutants in the air, send pollutants downhill into a stream or creek, annoy your neighbors with noise, and waist valuable time that could be spent doing fun and more important things. What benefits do we gain from this practice? What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! -- say it again.

Usually, the front yard is the sunniest and most open spot on our property. Why do we devote this most valuable space to turf grass? A perception of curb appeal? Because there is an ordinance to look a particular way? To impress our neighbors? Are we still hardwired to believe a large lawn is a sign of wealth and prosperity? We could easily change our perceptions, our actions, and change our landscapes to be more useful to the overall health and ecology of the land.   

I think it is great my parents had the vision early on to plant huge borders around their property. They planted native trees and shrubs to provide privacy, shade and also to create a haven for birds. Now, with large areas cut in and mulched, the grass is minimal and the yard is useful to them as well as to the wildlife it supports. I think my parents also helped start a trend with their neighbors. Most people along their street have planned their landscape in this fashion. I might add these plantings did not take place in time to get me out of mowing the lawn, and the mowing was replaced with having to water the trees but I can now appreciate the yard work. I guess it built character and turned me into the nature enthusiast I am today.

If gardening for the benefit of wildlife is not your priority, then use your yard in a way that will be beneficial to you, your health, and your well being. A mix of flowering plants, vegetables, and herbs provide nourishment for the mind, body and soul. Flowers are pleasing to the eye, herbs smell delightful and they help relieve stress. Stop and smell the roses -- and the rosemary! Vegetables feed us, help us make friends with neighbors as we share. They save us money, gas and time if we are not having to go buy them at the grocery store.

One of the neighbor's yards is a good mix of native, non native and herbs.

Kelly Smith lives in my neighborhood. As I take my daily walk by her garden, I stop, stare, and admire that she has planted an edible garden in her front yard. It has symmetry, color, texture, and it is bountiful. Kelly works as a marketing and communications producer for Bonnie Plants, a national wholesale company based right here in Alabama. She is a regular contributer to the Bonnie Plant Blog. The blog shares a good variety of garden information with the eco-friendly gardener in mind. http://blogs.bonnieplants.com/

Now, instead of mowing the lawn, watch this funny but so true video.

When you don't have grass to mow, you can sit and relax, and enjoy your garden.