when I visualized the feather grass, I imagined it to be a SEA of grass rippling in the wind. So the fourth image down you mention, exactly illustrates my vision or fantasy.

Robin, I too have spent time gardening on the East Coast prior to moving out west, however I tried to replicate a level of perfection unobtainable given the East Coast climate! In fact when I first moved away, I gave up gardening all together for myself. Then the opportunity arose to move to the San Juan Islands, an opportunity I was unable to resist and there I was facing a Lawn again! So I created an enclosed little garden sanctuary outside my office, which I can keep as perfect as humanly possible, surrounded by the natural environment I cover in my post. Thanks so much for commenting and sharing your gardening experiences.

As for the “lawn”, we enjoy the ground covers that grow with the grass. Having pets and kids, a lawn was always a nice place for the feet. We would dig out the occasional obnoxious “weed” with a hand tool. Our time tested recipe for having a low maintenance lawn is to sow grass seed each spring and fall and fertilize the hell out of it. We have been using a product called Milorganite for decades..the grass grows vigorously and naturally crowds out other weeds.

One more gardening tip that I agree with you on is getting your supplies from reputable local nurseries. These people know the particular varieties of plants that will grow well in your area and you can hand select your plants to know you are starting out with good healthy stock
Happy Gardening to Y’All

Years ago I was involved in a Xeriscape project for developments (housing tracts in the desert)in Reno, initiated by the power company no less. These developments have no business having lawns do they? And recently I have seen some great shopping center landscaping designs in the North West using very much the same grasses I did. However these shopping center designs could be improved if they planted in categories of grasses, masses of the same like in nature, rather then try to use the grasses in what would be a traditional ” mixed media” landscaping style.

Cathy, I might have guessed about you! Thanks for a great comment giving many specifics of how you did the East coast equivalent to our “natural environment”. Swampy problems are ideal for this focus once you solve what the right plantings are, those which allow their roots to be in water some or all of the time. We don’t have this problem in the summer where we often don’t get rain from May-October, and have a sandy well drained soil, however in November when we get most of our winter rain we can have a very wet environment and can lose plantings through rot. It’s a all a delicate balance just like Social Media. I was told people don’t like the technical or Latin names in posts and will look them up if important to them, so common names are just fine and BTW I could totally visualize your natural creation, Monarch butterflies and all.

I didn’t feel like I could afford expensive renovation/landscaping to correct the problem (it was ALWAYS too wet to mow due to surrounding property/water runoff issues). Instead I found native swamp plants at a local arboretum/public garden plant sale. Before ordering them, I too did my research to be sure they were not invasive in my area (although the public gardens had done their research as well). It was perfect, they had flats of 30 plants – 5-7 plants each of several varieties for sunny, wet meadows with ‘deep plugs’w/ extra long roots. I’ve added a few other native plants over the years and I now have a thriving natural habitat with bees, various butterflies, lightening bugs.

I have Joe Pye Weed (5-6′ tall), two types of swamp butterfly weed (milkweed)- the only food that the Monarch butterflies eat, turtle-head, 2 types of Swamp Hibiscus, plus a couple of shrubs and small tree as well. Sorry I don’t have the botanical names with me, and I know common names can be different in different areas.

One year I didn’t cut down the plant stems – the next spring birds were stripping the stems for their nesting – which was an extra treat.

But it solved my mowing issues, has created habitat for butterflies and birds, and looks great, especially in July through September – just a riot of pink. I enjoyed the virtual walk through your article above; I would love to expand the area and get rid of some more lawn add some of the grasses that can handle ‘wet feet.’

I also like your point about the thyme lawn – yes it’s not as drought tolerant, but you’ve chosen to put extra water where you will get the most benefit for your design and environmental buck.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful post and linking back to my blog.