Naturescaping: Escaping to Nature

my style of yardkeeping has long been inspired

by the natural landscape around my hometown,

Baao,

living peacefully alongside local trees


and the wispy grasses that grow happily beneath them

always felt comfortable and genuine,

and i’m excited to learn that this hands off approach to landscaping

now has a name of its own:

naturescaping.

it describes the growing trend

toward replacing the lawn

with native species of grasses,

flowers,

shrubs, and trees.


so, what exactly is a native plant?

it’s one that existed within the place for a long time.

native plants conserve soil and water,

provide the backbone for non-polluting landscapes

because they don’t need fertilizers or pesticides,

supports a diversity of wildlife through improved habitat,

reduce long term maintenance after plantings are established,

are hardy and tolerant,

and are less prone to destructive insects.

how did i know all these?

well, i read, researched and observed.

what are my eyes for? if i don't use them?


if you’re skeptical

because native plants seem like they might be “weedier”

than a carpet of green zoysia turf,

picture this:

you can’t trade your ho-hum plot of monotonous green

for an artistically designed environment of the local bushes,

carabao grasses, and colored wildflowers

– a refuge where you can meander along pebbled paths
and watch birds

and butterflies dance among the blooms.

it’s a place of peace, no matter how small,

because it has taken its cue from mother nature herself.



i am an artist, and i could paint beautiful flowers,

but,

no one artist can beat the beauty that mother nature offers.
and as I always say, we only have one earth, we only live one life.

THINK!