Reimagining the American Lawn
Regenerative landscaping is the new Green.
“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” -Aldo Leopold, from A Sand County Almanac
In her fascinating and informative book titled “The Lawn: A History of an American Obsession,” author Virginia Jenkins relays a quote from a 1969 magazine article in which the writer states, “Today’s approach to lawn-keeping is that man is the master, and while natural elements can make it difficult at times, having a perfectly manicured, evenly green lawn is a highly satisfying experience.”
For centuries, this uniquely American concept of how a good and highly satisfying residential lawn should look — verdant, closely cropped, and controlled — has prevailed. But is this ubiquitous, homogenous, non-native turfgrass as “good,” as this cultural tradition implies?
Thomas Jefferson, the Original “Get Off My Lawn” Guy
The American lawn tradition dates to the 18th century, when landscape designers in aristocratic circles in England and France began experimenting with closely shorn, grassy garden areas meant to invoke the image of a lush, emerald green, outdoor carpet. The palace at Versailles soon boasted a charming lawn installation amid its…
