I have a neighbor on one side that loves my native garden and is always asking about my flowers and is eager to try any plants I give her. On the other side they are not so thrilled. They are afraid of the bees that visit my flowers and would like me to keep them out of their yard. They see my yard as an unkempt mess that threatens their perfect lawn. I wish that both my neighbors would love my garden as much as I do and see the beauty in it. However, I must put effort into educating and passifying my unhappy neighbor to keep peace in the neighborhood.
When starting a native plant garden often the beginning stages can be ugly while beds are prepared and plants establish. Talk to your neighbors about what you’re doing and why. I like to bring them some of my old plant catalogs as well as information I have picked up from Grow Native to leave for them to read. Listen to their concerns and try to compromise, especially on their border. Invite Bring Conservation Home to speak at a neighborhood meeting. BCH has a very informative presentation about why native gardening is good for conservation and this is a good way to get more neighbors into native gardening. Once your native garden is established have a mini garden tour for the neighborhood. Bring your neighbors into the garden so they can see first hand how beautiful it is and why it is important. Put up an information station near the street with native plant info and free seeds. Also, put up a sign that is visible from the street stating that this is a native plant landscape. Pre-made professional signs are available from Wild Ones, Monarch Waystation, and Bring Conservation Home.
There are a few design elements that are good for pleasing neighbors. It is important to make your garden look cared for and not like it was just left to grow wild. Wide paths, boarders and fences define beds and give everything an orderly look. Always keep sidewalks clear and don’t let tall plants or shrubs flop into the neighbors driveway. Plant the front yard in a more traditional planting and save the crazy natural plantings for the back yard. Add signs of human use to the garden such as sculptures, benches, and patios with potted plants.
Neighbors can have many concerns about a native landscape. People are worried about wild looking areas attracting bees, mosquitoes, snakes, raccoons, mice, etc. I’m happy to invite all these creatures into my yard but I try to reassure the neighbors that they will not bother them. Neighbors also worry about weed seeds and leaves blowing into their yard. Try to keep your seeds and leaves on site where they can enrich the soil. Some people may also be worried about allergens such as rag weed. Educate the neighbor about the difference between rag weed and goldenrod that is not a common allergen. Some times a plant should be removed or cut back before it seeds to keep an allergic neighbor from being miserable. Remember that we are ambassadors for native plant landscaping. Each neighbor that we can get to fall in love with a native garden is a step in the right direction.
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