Kangaroo Paw, Grevillea, Backea, Coastal tea tree, Queensland Blue Grass are some of the plants in this natives on the verge garden in Macquarie Hills. Just visible on the right is a pedestrian path and postie access. Photo: Supplied
Where have all the flowers gone?
If variety is the spice of life, why the obsession with a monoculture for a front verge.
THERE’S A SMALL CHANGE on the way when it comes to planting between the footpath and the gutter or road/street. In this story, substitute Australia for America to get an idea of what it means to continue mowing lawn rather than providing habitat for wildlife.
Jennifer Kodros in: Homeowner sparks neighbourhood envy with effect of unmowed lawn: ‘That’s amazing’ (The Cool Down, December 7, 2023) writes:
The obsession with a bright emerald lawn has become as synonymous with the American Dream as a white picket fence. Since the late 1940s, a manicured landscape has been a matter of pride for homeowners.
However, many Americans are now realizing that luscious monoculture lawns aren’t exactly ideal. In a Reddit forum committed to promoting and encouraging biodiverse lawns — natural or wildlife-friendly lawns — one follower shared how what he’s doing is bringing all the birds to the yard.
“My neighbour wonders where all the birds are. They’re in my unmowed yard feasting on seeds,” he boasts with pride.
In the comments, the original poster confirms the seeds are from the evening primrose flower — an edible wildflower known for its medicinal qualities and a very popular home for caterpillars. Another remarkable feature is the flower responds to the buzzing of pollinator wings and temporarily sweetens its nectar for them.
Lawns are the most grown crop in the United States, and according to the Princeton Student Climate Initiative, they cover more than 40 million acres of land — and they’re not for eating.
In some neighbourhoods, it’s a competition for ‘curb appeal’ that requires a lot of maintenance, time, and money. Beyond that, it’s costing our planet.
Every year across the country, lawns consume nearly 3 trillion gallons of water, 200 million gallons of gas, and 70 million pounds of pesticides, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Get the full story here.
We need a verge garden guidelines in NSW – one to match that of Newcastle and other local government bodies. This would be a welcome indication that we are transitioning away from sterile high maintenance monoculture lawns – a kick back to Victorian England – and a vote in favour of colonising nature. A suite of actions to increase native habitat for wildlife and cool our cities and towns is long overdue. Replicating some of the plant species found at Munibung Hill would be a win-win-win. Start with the flora gallery.
Check the links in Munibung Musings Magazine Issue 42 for ideas and perhaps get some inspiration to advocate for verge gardens wherever you happen to live.
MMM Issue 42, February-March 2024
