A law passed with near unanimity by the Maryland General Assembly gives new freedom to homeowners who prefer native flowers and plants in their yards rather than grass. Janet and Jeff Crouch prevail over pushback from Columbia neighbors and their homeowners association that claim their unkempt yard violates bylaws and hurts property values.
Grass lawns make up one-third of the 135 million acres of residential landscaping around the country. Environmentalists claim that the sea of grass creates “ecological dead zones”.
The Crouches carefully nurture native flowers and plants rather than a traditional lawn. A neighbor complains to the homeowners association that he is living next to a “mess of a jungle”. The association sends warnings and then a cease-and-desist letter to the Crouches, threatening fines or worse if they don’t plant a traditional lawn. After a year and a half standoff, the Crouches file a complaint with the local circuit court, receiving support from a state delegate and winning the case with a new state law.
