[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Robinson

Yes, grass is the main culprit in terms of chemicals and mainly water, which is either a contaminate or just wasteful.

I will agree that the look of grass is a thing of beauty, when properly maintained.
However with the problem of water shortages due to climate change restrictions and anything else,
the use of artificial turf should be a choice a homeowner should be able to make.
Alas -- we cannot because of the "rules" The Villages has imposed upon us.

When done properly, I defy anyone to tell the difference in the look of turf compared to grass.
Yes, it is expensive to install but over time, pays for itself.

Installing artificial turf should be the choice of every homeowner, not a stupid edict set upon us by the developer.

That "stupid edict" is part of our deed restrictions.

Artificial turf doesn't do photosynthesis which produces all that nice oxygen while it gets rid of carbon dioxide.

photosynthesis - Bing

[Fraugoofy]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

The Florida Native Plant Society meets the fourth Friday of each month at Big Cypress Rec Center at 1:30. Loads of info available by folks who are experts in native plants...speakers, plant giveaways and sales, field trips, you name it.

Thanks for this info. Do they meet in the summer?

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[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by Fraugoofy

Thanks for this info. Do they meet in the summer?

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Yes, fourth Friday of the month except December, 1:30 at Big Cypress.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Yes, fourth Friday of the month except December, 1:30 at Big Cypress.

Done a little googling about this group, Native Plant Society and their recent convention and their goals. They are not political it seems and their topics and their goal is to restore natural habitats for creatures that live here. Seems like a good group.

Saw not a word in any of the information from them about artificial turf. Artificial Turf would not provide a home for the worms. (Or Mole Crickets for that matter) or things that feed the Sandhill cranes. I see the cranes beaking down into the grass for something. Artificial turf wouldn't halt wash out either, I would think.

Mark me down as interested in The Native plant society and not interested in artificial turf.

Or those bells instead of downspouts. We all have different tastes.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

That "stupid edict" is part of our deed restrictions.

Artificial turf doesn't do photosynthesis which produces all that nice oxygen while it gets rid of carbon dioxide.

Most people are not aware that the "No turf" edict is part of our deed restrictions.
When we first moved here I was not aware because at that time, it wasn't even a thought.
I think if someone was to read their deed restrictions now, after having lived here, they would be surprised about some of the things they've either forgotten or never really realized.

No, artificial turf doesn't do anything for photosynthesis.
However, we aren't speaking about the entire community doing this.
I mentioned this as a possibility for homeowners having the choice to have it if they so desired.

It also happens to be a fact that in hot weather, photosynthesis does not perform very well insofar as grass is concerned.
Trees and plant life are the major sources for cleaning up the air, not grass.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Done a little googling about this group, Native Plant Society and their recent convention and their goals. They are not political it seems and their topics and their goal is to restore natural habitats for creatures that live here. Seems like a good group.

Saw not a word in any of the information from them about artificial turf. Artificial Turf would not provide a home for the worms. (Or Mole Crickets for that matter) or things that feed the Sandhill cranes. I see the cranes beaking down into the grass for something. Artificial turf wouldn't halt wash out either, I would think.

Mark me down as interested in The Native plant society and not interested in artificial turf.

Or those bells instead of downspouts. We all have different tastes.

Why would a native plant society have anything to do with being political?
Yes -- they do excellent things and what they tout makes sense.
Why would they say anything about "artificial" synthetic turf?
That's not what they are about.

No artificial turf would not be a home to mole crickets (thank God!) or worms, but all your planted areas would be.
Furthermore, if you have stones as opposed to mulched areas,
the stones don't offer anything for the worms either and bake the soil (sand) in the sun.
Those areas require more water.

You primarily see the sandhill cranes on the golf courses, and not often in people's yards,
so that would not be a factor for a person having the turf in their yard.
The cranes prefer open areas anyway.

And bells instead of downspouts? Huh?

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by joldnol

I commend your desire to go native. One of the first things many Villagers do is tear out the native plants that come with the house and replace them with non-native palms.

I don't believe The Villages plant any native plants when they landscape a new property.

Homeowners seem to pull out plants, shrubs and trees they just don't like.

[Fraugoofy]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Yes, fourth Friday of the month except December, 1:30 at Big Cypress.

Thank you, villageswimmer. Maybe I will see you there...

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[Arctic Fox]

Mown grass is carbon-neutral. The carbon dioxide used (and oxygen produced) during growth is exactly the same as the oxygen used (and carbon dioxide produced) as the clippings rot away.

The same is true of plants, but over a much longer period. Trees are the best because they lock in the carbon for decades. If the tree is then used to make timber for buildings, the wood doesn't rot away so the lock-in period is extended.

With lawns, account must also be taken of the oxygen used and carbon dioxide etc. produced in the weekly mowing process, and by the gardener's truck, and by the huge amounts of energy used in the production of the fertilizer and weedkiller/pesticide liberally sprayed on to the lawns.

Low-maintenance Florida-friendly plants and trees are the way to go, even without taking the water savings into account.

[2newyorkers]

I have 2 dwarf bottle brush bushes and they survive drought, frost, etc. Knock out roses also do very well.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Mown grass is carbon-neutral. The carbon dioxide used (and oxygen produced) during growth is exactly the same as the oxygen used (and carbon dioxide produced) as the clippings rot away.

The same is true of plants, but over a much longer period. Trees are the best because they lock in the carbon for decades. If the tree is then used to make timber for buildings, the wood doesn't rot away so the lock-in period is extended.

With lawns, account must also be taken of the oxygen used and carbon dioxide etc. produced in the weekly mowing process, and by the gardener's truck, and by the huge amounts of energy used in the production of the fertilizer and weedkiller/pesticide liberally sprayed on to the lawns.

Low-maintenance Florida-friendly plants and trees are the way to go, even without taking the water savings into account.

So, do you have grass around your home?

[EnglishJW]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Robinson

Change the cookie cutter look? It can be done very easily.

Change the shape/curve of what TV does in the front of every house.
Use different color/type stone borders other than what everyone who has landscaping installed uses.
Practically all landscapers have utilized the same type and color in their borders.
Use brick, stepping stones, flagstone, etc., to change the look and color.

Be aware of shape, type, texture, color and form in choosing plants and shrubs; all green plants are not the same shade of green. Don't go overboard with variegated shrubs and plants. Plant some colorful seasonal annuals.

Utilize an interesting planted pot, waterfall or other water feature, a bird bath, edging or mulch.
A little stone here or there, etc., looks nice.
Many of these things can become a focal point to draw your eye.

It doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
Do what you can afford.
A few changes can be a totally new look.

Any more information and I would have to charge you!

We agree and I enjoyed this post. We have had mostly positive experiences with lots of Florida native and friendly plants. It is easy to add colors, levels, etc. On the other hand, we do not like all the borders.

[EnglishJW]

While we are on this general subject, in addition to the landscaping itself take a long look at drip irrigation. For starters, turf requires more water than plants. Drip irrigation further improves things since the water is applied precisely where you want it for even greater efficiency. Selecting effective emitters, you can actually control your watering plant by plant.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

So, do you have grass around your home?

We used to, GracieGirl, but we took it up last year and replaced it with Asian Jasmine ground cover (those low, dark green plants TV uses a lot).

It takes two years to establish, sending out runners and filling in the gaps, but is very low maintenance and, with deep roots, copes well with drier periods (we irrigate for half the minutes we used to with grass).

Our plans were well-received by the ARC, and the neighbors seem to like it. We are not "against" others having grass; this was just the way we wanted to go, for many reasons.

[RWhitburn]

Talk with Steve Turnipseed who is President of the Florida Native Plant Society in The Villages. The club meets the 4th Friday of every month at 1:30 in the Big Cypress Rec center. Lots of informative people there including members who have "gone native" with beautiful results. Check out two recent projects on Foggy Brook Loop in Village of St Charles. Both were done by Green Isle Gardens out of Groveland. Owner of Green Isle is Mark Godts - he grows all of his own native plants without pesticides on his 8+ acres and is so knowledgeable, as is Steve Turnipseed. Green Isles - Florida native plants, Green Isle Gardens Groveland, FL Home I look forward to doing my yard next year and saving $$$ on irrigation, pesticides, fertilizer, and mowing!