Why is this man having to defend having a native plant garden? Isn't water a precious commodity in CA?

Question

Granted, California natives don't always have a conventional appeal and look a bit scruffy by mid-summer through fall, but they support a much higher level of biodiversity than a lawn and they use a thimbleful of water compared to most non-native species.

And yet this gentleman is considering moving as a result of problems with the city where he lives, and a few of his neighbors.

Your thoughts?

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/robinson-plants-native-2132887-yard-habitat

Answer 1

He  certainly should be left alone. Its also true  that  O.C.  is not  the  best place in the U.S. to  go to if you want to be left alone.

Answer 2

I live in the foothills of Southern California and we get the same sort of grief from our homeowner's association. They're always telling us to plant more plants, I think what really bugs them is that we don't have a half-acre of grass like everyone else. With the current water situation in California it's just not responsible to have water-intensive yards. We water about once a week, maybe twice if it gets really hot.  

Today we're getting our first rain in months, hooray!

Answer 3

I don't really have a problem with it, but I'm not exactly all for it, either.

First, I hate the manicured sprawling lawn look.  That is the height of wastefulness and stupidity.  I always want to put a few sheep on those lawns, and say, "See, along with your ultra expensive pasture, you can use a sheep to graze the grass, instead of the lawnmower.  So you save fuel, and raise some of your own meat!"

Of course we live on a farm.  Our goal next year is to completely do away with all of our lawn area.

While I'm entirely for native plants (if all of those plants shows truly are native).  I'm also a realist, and can look at what the natural cycles in California should be.  If no humans were around, plants would grow much as they are in his yard.  Things like bison, elk, deer, antelope, and rabbits should come and nibble down the fodder....but of course that is not happening.

In nature the extra fodder would accumulate, and eventually a fire would rage through, every 2-5 years.  The prickly pear cactus would be mostly unharmed by fire.  The ashes would add to the soil fertility.

However he obviously cannot allow fire to run through his yard.  No animals are eating the growth.  So what is he doing to prevent too much of it from accumulating?  

Green lawns (much as I hate them) are actually a really good fire break and help save houses.  He may be creating a fire hazzard.

As a neighbor, I be a whole lot happier, if he landscaped in gravel, sand, interesting large boulders, prickly pear cactus, and a few other suculents.  I also wouldn't mind a few sparse grasses, and weedy type native flowers.

As it is, he has too much dry fodder, a recipe for a fire.  He'd better get a bison to help him take care of that problem.

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Answer 4

This is ridiculous....let the poor guy keep his native plant garden....it makes SO much more sense then those stupid manicured lawns that are a huge waste of our precious water!  OC is full of a bunch of pretentious idiots.

Answer 5

Unfortunately this gentleman is ahead of his time.  People are still not ready to accept what is right if it is not visually pleasing.  Hope he wins on the basis of freedom of expression I also hope he finds out who messed up his yard.  Good luck have a great day.

Answer 6

the thistle on the right in the picture is not a native plant.

it is a noxious invasive weed.

poison oak would be far more "native".

OK, OK, the larger pic shows it's not russian thistle.

however, i did note that line of plants along the sidewalk, and that line would imply that he didn't choose them, he just let whatever grew there alone.

so it would appear his "garden" is not planted, but just allowed to grow whatever happens.

now in most cases, it would not be a problem.

however, if you were selling a house across the street, his gargen would cost you many thousands of dollars.