naturalized garden or weeds?
September 10th, 2007Just recently, my better half and I converted our front (and back) lawn from grass to naturalized gardens. We dug out the grass (and are composting it), turned the soil with manure, invested in some native plants and some cedar mulch so that it doesn’t all blow away. It’s a little early to see the real results, but it is starting to look and smell amazing.
The neighbors are a little confused. They think the naturalized lawn across the street looks like ‘a forest’, which is probably the biggest compliment you can get in the naturalized world. Most are used to the manicured lawn, a few exotic plants and constant watering.
My neighbor did suggest that “if it were up to him, he would cut down the 25 year old maple tree in my front yard because it makes a mess in the fall”. Stunned, I instantly thought of my lawyer and made sure she was on speed dial.
Then I read about how the city mowed over Deborah Dale’s naturalized garden. It’s depressing, but I completely understand how it happened. My neighborhood is balanced between the old-school manicured lawn crowd, and the naturalized garden crowd.
My neighbor spends most of his time in the backyard shooting birds and squirrels with his hose. I guess my 3 birdfeeders aren’t helping.
Awesome.
November 18th, 2007 at 12:07 am
the city inspector has now gone after Ms Dale’s back yard. using the Municipal Standards 629-10 as ammunition they are attacking the property on the basis of dead branches and dense undergrowth.
At an appeal to committee they used pictures of some dogwoods and a mahonia bush as dense undergrowth.
they photographed a very small area hidden behind a Pine Tree and her yard waste compost where some cedars had been vandalized and most of the green cut off of the trees lower branches. I’m sure this by-law was meant to protect people from falling tree limbs, not from the lower branches of evergreens.
this backyard is an oasis of cool on a hot summer day. the far back has three tall norway maple trees. (you have to know there is no dense undergrowth under them) the yard is surrounded by a cedar hedge with some pines closer to the house. the yard is very private and should cause offense to no one.
the followup hearing which was to allow the city to bring in their own expert will be Monday, Nov. 26th at 9:30 am in committee room 1., Scarborough City Hall. parking of course is impossible as the Scarborough Town Centre doesn’t allow parking until 10 a.m. when the mall opens and street parking fills up quickly.
this has to be fought because when the city takes action they are likely to clearcut the entire yard and destroy some of the rare native species she has been cultivating.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
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