Letters

Well, while no one would argue about having a nice ballfield lawn, Ella Gatfield nicely described that we have way too much of it [“The Grass Is Not Greener,” Viewpoint, Residence, October 9].

Europeans, from which our horticultural heritage evolved, generally have much smaller lawns than Americans. The original farmers likely named our plants. Milkweed, fireweed and pokeweed were all weeds to them, even though they all have redeeming qualities.

Since lawns are generally sterile, it is easy to skim off the sod with a sod cutter and plant a mini meadow of native flowering grasses and plants without having to deal with any non-native weeds. Since many native flowers need a few months of cold, wet conditions to germinate (cold stratification), the seeds can be immediately applied in the fall and winter months for spring germination. No need for fertilizer or watering, since they are native to this area. Deer resistant mixes work very well, as there are so many plants that the deer don’t like, so they leave the area alone.

While it is nice to support the collapsing butterfly populations, make a nice meadow for yourself and enjoy the beauty of nature. It’s much more rewarding than looking at more boring lawn.

Richard Ricca, M.D.

Water Mill