A Case Against Boring Lawns (In Photos)

Strong Towns writer Nathaniel Hood posted an awesome set of photos on his blog last year called, “Suburban Engagement Shoot.” You might remember it from GOOD’s website or somewhere else. The photoshoot brilliantly drove home the point that modern developments are depressing.

Most people choose beautiful city streets and Main Streets, parks and forests for their wedding and engagement shoots, and nobody chooses barren McMansionlands. That would just be ridiculous, because there’s no natural beauty to be found there. There’s a lot of pavement. A lot of houses that look the same. A lot of grass, and very little life in the landscape. It’s not the image people feel represent who they are and what they love. So why do so many people choose to live there?

Inspired by Hood’s post, as well as the many examples provided in native landscaping books, I figured I’d try to convince you through visuals only that it’s time to take a different approach to your outdoor space. So let’s play a simple game where you choose the most appealing, calming, beautiful photo between two.

This:

or this:

Enjoy y0ur morning coffee, looking out the window at this:

or this:

What’s more beautiful to you? This:

or this:

Would you rather gaze at these plastic deer:

or get the chance to see this:

If you’re not ready to transition from a useless, pesticide-covered lawn to a beautiful, lush ecosystem that supports all of and creates more visual interest and opportunities to learn