Chapter 1
I loved spending summers in my front yard, sitting on the lawn under the cool shade of the large trees that lined the street. The house I grew up in sat on a corner,
at least thirty feet from the sidewalk, with a lawn that wrapped around the front and side of the house. We often used the space to play games with the neighborhood children: Red Rover, kickball, and tag.
One of my fondest memories of summer is lying on my back in the cool grass and looking up at the cloud shapes floating by. In the distance, I could hear the hum of a neighbor’s mower and smell the freshly cut grass wafting through the air.
Confessions of a Turf-aholic
I confess that it was, at first, difficult for me to let go of my attachment to my front lawn because of those fond childhood memories. Nostalgic feelings can be deeply-rooted in our psyche and hinder us from reinventing our front yards into more eco-friendly designs. So let’s acknowledge the obvious: grass is pretty. It feels nice and smells good when freshly cut. It can, in fact, be addicting. As is true with any addiction, no change can occur until there is a desire for change. So first, let’s consider the history of the great American lawn-scape and how we became a turf worshipping culture.
The following show some examples of water conserving yards that are attractive, welcoming,and provide dazzling curb appeal.
