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December 01, 2010
by Benia Zouras
Mammals, butterflies, birds, and bees
My native plants feed more than these!
They play and hide among them all
Grasses, forbs, both large and small
Seasons change, blooms turn to seeds
Even then, plants serve their needs
And when they are all but bare
They still have beauty left to spare
Through cold winters, they decorate
And remind us while we wait
For the warm weather to return
Of fresh new sprouts for us to learn
Who knew plants from Illinois
Could provide such year-round joy?
/ruminations | Permalink (0 comments)
September 16, 2010
Neighbor Violates Bartlett Watering Rules
Despite the anonymity provided by the Village's complaint process, I am quite certain that I know at least one of my neighbors is responsible for the attacks on my parkway garden. Mary Ann Janisch of 833 Francine Drive has made it clear through words and actions that she does not appreciate my landscaping choices.
So today, let's take a little peek at what happens in Mrs. Janisch's yard. Please refer to the picture for today's entry. It was taken today. You will see a sprinkler running. It is overcast and obviously likely to rain. This is a waste of water that I observe too often in my neighborhood, but I had never bothered anyone about it because I hoped that I could lead by example. I don't water and my plants are all tall and healthy.
But the wasting of water by Mary Ann is only the beginning. By using a sprinkler to water at 833 Francine Drive on September 16th, she is violating Bartlett municipal code.
7-5A-6: WATER CONSERVATION REGULATIONS:
It will be unlawful to sprinkle lawns in the Village except in accordance with the following schedule:
A. Residents of houses with odd numbered street addresses shall be permitted to sprinkle only on odd numbered days of the month.
B. Residents of houses with even numbered street addresses shall be permitted to sprinkle only on even numbered days of the month.
The neighborhood must understand the importance of water conservation and complain in droves about such flagrant disregard for the rules. This situation surely warrants action by the Village.
Of course, none of that is going to happen. While the neighbors don't understand the benefits of native plants in the parkway, they do think they understand the need for sprinklers. So the waste goes on and nobody but me cares.
/ruminations | Permalink (5 comments)
March 27, 2010
It is that time of the year again. All of the poison purveyors are flooding my mailbox and door with their advertisments. I found the one in the picture to be particularly amusing.
Of course I realize that these are bulk mailings, but if you have ever seen my yard, then it is clear that TruGreen certainly does not know my Bartlett "lawn".
My annual mowing, is the only thing that I will be doing this spring to get an early start on making Native Suburbia greener and healthier. I cannot burn in my densely populated neighborhood, so I mow once a year in the spring to chop everything up. This opens it up nicely for the coming growing season.
Oh, I also hate those silly flip-flop shoes!
/ruminations | Permalink (0 comments)
October 15, 2009
Whacking, Mowing, Edging and Blowing
In my continuing effort to recognize the people that took the effort to comment on Native Suburbia, this is a response to feedback we received from Long-term resident of the Gingerbrook subdivision
:
I see that there still may be hope for Bartlett when another resident recognizes that our yards do not have to look like professional ball fields
. I find the ball field look to be very boring. The yard might as well be painted green for all the visual interest that the typical lawn provides.
Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So the comment that my yard could use a little more color
is not unexpected. We have all been programmed to believe that beautiful gardens consist of dense patches of brilliant colors. I include myself in that category. I was programmed, but now I have re-educated myself to appreciate a wider variety of landscaping textures and colors. Let's not forget that green is a color and so is brown. There are many shades of each and they can be just as interesting as the yellows, oranges, reds and blues if you allow yourself to consider them. A tiny white aster may not be the most dazzling bloom ever seen, but when they all pop in late summer it provides a nice show at a time when most of my neighbors have already chopped and vacuumed any flowers they may have grown during the summer. I do not even chop down my garden in the Fall. I leave the dried remnants in place to provide a home for overwintering insects and visual interest for me through the long winter months. The brown and black stalks contrast in many interesting ways with the snow. They provide reminders of the miracle of nature that created all of those plants in a few short months of summer and a reminder that it will all happen again during the next summer.
The lack of whacking, mowing, edging and blowing in Native Suburbia certainly does lend itself to a more serene outdoor experience. Unfortunately, I am surrounded by so many people that continue to do it, that I rarely get to enjoy any peace and quiet. As soon as one person finishes their mowing, the next one starts up and when that one is complete, the cycle continues. I forlornly refer to these as the "sounds of Summer". But sometimes, if I am lucky, I can sit out in the back yard and listen to the birds and the insects for up to an hour. On these occasions, I imagine a world in which my neighbors are doing the same and we can all forget about the lawn mowers and enjoy the true sounds of Summer.
/ruminations | Permalink (2 comments)
October 08, 2009
I wanted to take the time to respond to feedback we received from A neighbor to the East
:
I think that your native garden is OK. I pass it several times per day, in my car, on my bike and on foot. I like your variety of plants. Even as an avid gardener, I often note plants that are new to me. Your landscape is benefitting nature. You should not be quick to yield to convention and the complaints of others. If the Village and your neighbor(s) persist in complaining then perhaps you should counter with a request that they work to mitigate the nearly 200 lbs. of herbicides and pesticides that each of our neighbors put on their patch of lawn annually in an attempt to attain an envious patch of acceptable turf - you know the stuff that children and pets can't walk on for a period post application.It is nice to hear that others in the neighborhood understand that Native Suburbia is beneficial to wildlife and the environment. No gas fumed lawnmower, no chemicals, and no bags of clippings to be trucked off. The air and the water can be a little bit cleaner and the soil is actually being enriched as we work with the natural decomposition cycles.I would hope that the Village and your neighbor(s) have greater worries that the height of your wild flowers. Keep your native garden!
I am glad to know that the variety of plants can be enjoyed by people who take the time to appreciate more than hostas, daylilies, and lawn grass in suburbia. The significant increase in the number of birds, butterflies, and bees is a clear signal to me that I am doing the right thing. I wonder how many of my neighbors see hummingbirds. For the first time in years, I saw them several times a week this year. I do not put out those terrible sugar water feeders (Hummingbird McDonald's) either. They come for the natural food that I provide in the form of flowers such as columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and purple giant hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia).
I hope more people will take the time to understand and perhaps someday mine will not be the only yard on the block with a fantastic variety of native plants. Imagine a world where the yard filled with a dazzling array of birds, butterflies, and plants is the envy of the neighborhood. Imagine a world where a sterile patch of lawn, punctuated with a few out of place hostas, and surrounded by red mulch is looked upon as lazy. The work of someone that did not care enough to treat our shared resources with respect. I have already imagined this... can you?
/ruminations | Permalink (1 comment)
April 19, 2009
I was working my way through some junk mail today and came across an envelope from Spring-Green "Your neighborhood lawncare professionals". I usually just toss this junk in the recycling bin, but this time I decided to open it up and see what they were offering. It was such a compelling offer that I thought I would share it with you.
According to the letter, the Zouras family can get the Preferred Program 2009 for only $278.97. That represents a discount from the regular cost of $417.15 for a savings of $138.18. This amazing offer would bring Spring-Green to my home 8 times to take care of my landscaping needs. According to them that includes their "preferred fertilization and weed control program plus total lawn insect control for your lawn".
As tempting as that might sound to some, I am certainly not interested in the application of any fertilizers because my native plants do not require them in order to thrive. So I get to save the money and I do not pollute the environment with excess fertilizers.
The weed control program is a little confusing to me, because they never define "weed". I would never consider spraying herbicides on my yard, but I wonder what they would say if I asked them to get rid of the weeds that keep coming into my yard from the neighbors. Of course the most prevalent one is lawn grass. Do you think that Spring-Green has a method for killing that?
I am even more horrified by the "insect control" service. I can only imagine what poisons they would be spreading to kill the oh so terrible INSECTS that might nibble on the plants, provide food for birds, or chew up decomposing organic matter. When will people realize that insects are an important part of the ecosystem? I hope that humans never figure out a way to kill all of the insects that they are trying to eliminate, because it would be catastrophic. Every animal, right down to the smallest ant, has a place in this world and the world cannot operate if all of the stations are not "animaled". I will continue to provide poison free native plants in my yard to attract the insects and give them a habitat to survive in.
So I will not be paying anything to have Spring-Green spread fertilizers and poisons in my yard. My plants and insects will thrive with no help from me other than being left unmolested. I hope you will do the same.
/ruminations | Permalink (2 comments)
August 08, 2006
During this time of the year, I often lament about what I call the "sounds of summer". Nostalgia might lead you to think of birds singing, bees buzzing and children laughing. Unfortunately, the sounds of summer are now the droning of lawnmowers, buzzing of string trimmers, chatter of hedge trimmers, and roaring of leaf blowers, occasionally punctuated by the maddening repetition of "Turkey In The Straw" from the ice cream truck. Who in the world actually buys that overpriced garbage? Please stop so that I can retain my sanity.
It is frustrating to hear the constant sound of machines related to lawn maintenance all weekend long when I would like to enjoy being outdoors. If it is not the neighbor next to me, then it is the one behind me, or the one on the other side of the street, or even down the block. Those things are LOUD! On the rare occasion that everyone is taking a break at the same time, it is so nice to hear the birds and insects chittering and chattering as they go about the business of living. It is almost startling to realize that you are hearing something that is not the result of an engine running or a speaker moving. Benia plays a version of "Name That Tune" by trying to name the bird or bug that happens to be on stage at that moment. Not having an ear for such things, I am content to just sit and let the symphony of nature play for me.
Even if someone doesn't truly appreciate the natural sounds of summer, I find it hard it to believe that anyone prefers the roar of a lawnmower. I have seen confusing evidence to the contrary though. There are those who mow twice in one week, but more astounding is the double mow. This is where the same patch of lawn is mowed twice in a single day. This creates that "perfect" green carpet look with not a blade of grass out of place. I suppose they consider this quite an achievement, but I see it as a complete waste of time and resources.
I wish that more people would consider transforming their yards into native suburbia. It is a lot of work, but it is quiet work. Benia and I enjoy conversing while we spend time together in the yard. The isolation chamber that one steps into when operating a lawnmower is lonely and unpleasant. Avoidance of that torture was the catalyst for creation of Native Suburbia. Now we often lose track of time as we identify plants and pull weeds, while talking of future plans for the yard, trying to imagine what wonders nature will provide in the coming years. And of course enjoying those rare moments when we can hear the true sounds of summer.
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July 24, 2006While flipping through a magazine, a cute picture of a squirrel eating caught my eye. But something was wrong, there was also a man looking angrily at the squirrel. What could the squirrel have done to provoke the ire of this man? Closer inspection made it all clear. In its quest to survive the squirrel had foolishly decided to eat a plant that the man purchased. Now this advertisement from True Value was implying that we must defend ourselves against this creature. It also reinforces the idea that a good lawn is a "perfectly green lawn". I wish people would consider the broader implications of their actions. The mindset that produced this ad, keeps people shackled to their lawnmowers and puts them at odds with nature. I hate to think about what advice the helpful True Value worker would give to someone looking to solve their squirrel "problem".
In Native Suburbia, we are trying to work with nature. The squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and insects are welcome to eat anything they like. Food and habitat for the animals is part of the reason for establishing native plants in the yard. I won't say that they don't sometimes eat a little more than I would like them to. But it is hard to blame them for liking tender young plants. Isn't that exactly what we like to eat? In general, native perennials are very resilient and I have seen many a plant come back after what appeared to be a massacre by bunnies. Even if I lose a few plants, it is not a crippling blow to the project. We should all accept the fact that we cannot completely control nature. Besides, in the absence of a perfect person, we would mess things up anyway... Just like what we are doing to the planet right now. So I am going to continue letting the animals eat my yard.
Some people are even going a step further and actually planting fruits and vegetables that humans like to eat. I read an article today that said instead of growing grass, they are growing something that gives a real return for their labor. Edible Estates is an ongoing series of projects to replace the American front lawn with edible garden landscapes responsive to culture, climate, context and people. It is just starting out, but I like the idea. I would much rather see my neighbors slaving over some squash and tomatoes rather than cutting their lawn twice every week.
/ruminations | Permalink (2 comments)
February 18, 2006Many people believe that glyphosate based herbicides are harmless, but the world is a complex system and it is arrogant to believe that we can understand every detail.
I like to avoid spreading man-made chemicals into the environment if I can. Before anyone points out the obvious, I do drive a car, wear synthetic clothing and take medicinal drugs. I do not claim to be perfect, but when it comes to killing invasive plants in my yard, I am quite capable of accomplishing it without herbicides. I would like to encourage everyone to consider the alternatives. Plants can be controlled by taking away their ability to nourish themselves and reproduce. In Native Suburbia we killed the lawn by depriving it of light. We chopped down the buckthorn. No branches with leaves means no photosynthesis. Any unwanted seedlings that sprout from the remaining roots are pulled and added to our compost pile. Other invasives such as garlic mustard and bitter nightshade are also controlled by hand pulling. These techniques may be a little more work, but they also give us an excuse to have a close relationship with our environment. Our weeding excursions give us the opportunity to become familiar with every part of Native Suburbia.
So if you are trying to control 10 acres of buckthorn, then pull out the big guns, but if you are restoring less than a quarter of a acre in your suburban yard, then please try the hands-on approach.
Long-term resident of the Gingerbrook subdivision wrote at 2009-09-27 08:36: