The government says her lawn is 'unsightly.' She's fighting to keep it that way. [View all]

A pristine, evergreen lawn has long been the dream of American suburban homeowners, but in recent years, a new ideal has begun to sprout in yards across the country.

Some call it re-wilding and say it cuts down on water bills, reduces flooding, restores habitats and supports helpful bugs. Others see the lawns as messy, weedy and even illegal.

The issue is coming to a head this summer in a suburb outside New York City, where one science teacher is defending her family's native plants against an onslaught of criticism from village officials as she awaits her first-ever court appearance September 3.

The tickets and warnings she's received represent "an outdated mindset" by the village of Williston Park, said Aimee Kemp, 37. Her corner property, which once featured a standard lawn, now blooms with milkweeds, perennials and even fruit trees. She and her husband still maintain a smaller lawn in the backyard.

They water and mow the rest of the yard far less, Kemp said, saving money. During heavy rains, their property doesn't flood. Her 8-year-old son Auron has been studying the diverse plants that grow there and learning to pull up invasive species.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/09/03/lawn-suburbia-rewilding-flooding-habitat/85833019007/

I personally think lawns are an abomination. Ours (about an acre here in VA) is green, but not exactly with grass. We get it mowed about every 3 weeks in the summer, but there are otherwise plenty of native plants etc. to keep bees and bugs happy.