Lawn Reform Contest – The Winners are In!

And I am blown away by the creative, inspiring and heartfelt responses to the contest announcing the creation of the Lawn Reform Coalition. If you can’t wait to find out who the three lucky winners of John Greenlee’s The American Meadow Garden are, scroll down to the end.   Otherwise, here’s a recap of some of the amazing contest contributors.

I used to have a lawn, but now I have a wildlife refuge

Many of those who ripped out their lawn did so in recognition that a non-native monoculture does nothing to support pollinators and wildlife, native or otherwise. Bloggers were eloquent in describing the wonderful diversity of bees, birds and insects that thrive in their gardens, including David of Montana Wildlife Gardener,

whose announcement that he replaced

his lawn with an interpretive sign shows

how thoroughly committed he

is to creating life-sustaining diversity

in his garden.

Other gardeners who have created wildlife havens include Town Mouse from Town Mouse and Country Mouse, who marvels at the community of lizards that have arrived since she replaced her lawn with California natives

and Caroline from Inclined to Design, whose stunning photographs will blow you away.

Habitat gardens are not just about a commitment to the planet - a common thread was how engaged these gardeners are with their gardens and the pleasure they get from watching the birds, bees and other critters that now reside there.

I used to have a lawn, but now I have a sanctuary…and a community

Several gardeners spoke eloquently about the personal, peaceful spaces they were able to create after liberating themselves from the lawn. 

I was particularly inspired by Kat at The Kat's Garden who answered the question with the word freedom, and whose decision to replace her front lawn with a simple, low maintenance garden became a step on her journey to create a calmer, more mindful lifestyle overall.

In contrast, other bloggers explain that their decision to remove their lawn became the first step in creating a sense of community, such as the Germinatrix, whose exuberant, succulent filled Southern California front yard has given her the opportunity to get to know her neighbors.  Who says nobody walks in LA?

I used to have a lawn, but now I have dinner

was how Nadja at American Four-Square Renewal answered the question. I particularly enjoyed her post, as not only does it include before and afters (always near and dear to this designer's heart) but she planted her edible garden in the front yard!

  

As I read each post, one common theme emerged: Regardless of the style, each garden was a reflection of the gardener that transformed it from a traditional lawn into a space intended for living - whether that meant meditating, meeting neighbors, growing vegetables, or simply watching the world go by, surrounded by the satisfying hum of pollen-drunk bees.

And the(randomly drawn) winners are

David/Montana Wildlife Gardener

Catherine/A Garden in Progress

Nadja/American Four-Square Renewal

Congratulations to all! Don't forget, everyone is invited to drop by the Lawn Reform Coalition website and post your amazing photos on the Flickr page.

A final thank you to Timberpress, for their generosity in providing our prize.

Comments

[Susan Harris]

Wonderful! And puh-leeze, y'all put photos on the Lawn Replacement Flickr group, and tell us what plants we're looking at in your new non-lawn.

[Kat]

Congrats to the winners!
And thanks Susan for the kind words and for hosting this contest. It has been fun seeing so many people enjoying their lawn-less yards.

[Alice Joyce]

Great to see these alternatives. I wanted to enter my former front parkway in Chicago - have hundreds of slides but the company I've been using to scan them to digital is no longer doing so, and it's costly to use more professional outfits. One day I'll manage to convert one of the best images and will send it your way to add to the portfolio.
I have a shot where you can see down the block, an endless row of postage stamp lawns, behind the image of my 'postage stamp' densely planted with perennials, bulbs, 1 shrub, and a tall willow arch over a flagstone path.
It rained there during the growing season!
No watering or irrigation :~D

[Town Mouse]

That was fun! It's so encouraging, and I've enjoyed seeing the many possibilities for having a lawnless (or lawn less) garden.

Interestingly, I'm seeing changes in my home town. A street that used to have a lawn in front of each house now has perennials in front of a third of them. It only took 3 or 4 years (of drought...)

Thanks for hosting!

[Catherine]

Thanks for drawing me! I really enjoyed going through all the posts that showed what people have done with space once occupied by a lawn.

[VW]

Those are inspiring photos. I drive past a non-lawn home regularly, and it just looks weedy and unkept. So it's nice to see how great a lawn alternative can be. Keep stretching my vision, Susan!

[Germi]

What a FABULOUS contest! I was so thrilled to be a part of it, and to be encouraged to post on such an important topic. I am so behind the Lawn Reformers, I am absolutely beside myself!

And thanks for the shout-out! I always think my pics look better on other people's blogs! What's THAT about, do you think? HA!

You are a wonder, Susan ... just read your guest rant on GR, and have to pop up to comment on how smart you are and how much I agree with you on just about everything!
Mwah!

[pictures contest]

great contest and very interesting that someone is paying attention to this small topic. Lovely post.