The Day recently reported on a blight violation issued to a homeowner not mowing her lawn. Maggie Redfern’s landscaping reflects the changing views on lawns and increased emphasis on native plantings. A book by Doug Tallamy, "Bringing Nature Home," is persuasive about the necessity for doing what we can in our yards to aid the interconnectedness of our ecosystem. Connecticut College hosts an annual conference for "Smaller American Lawns Today" that addresses this very topic. 

Sometimes a compromise is reached when neighbors are unsure about whether an area is being cared for. Some homeowners, choosing to support our environment this way, mow small swaths close to paved areas or as a garden path to show that the plantings are intentional.

Native plants are chosen for these areas because exotic plants, although pretty, do not adequately support the ecosystem. Beauty in landscaping is evolving; it is not just the loveliness of the plant itself but an appreciation for the plant’s place in Earth’s living cycle. This is an opportunity for residents and the appeal/hearing officers to learn more about the benefits of Maggie’s lawn and perhaps rewrite the ordinance to accommodate this method of cultivating a garden.

Maggie’s goals in support of a healthy environment are worthy of consideration by us all. 

Christie Hayes

East Lyme