"BAC" wrote in
:


"Warwick" wrote in message
...

Yes, but there are 'acceptable' lawn plants IMHO and grass is just
one of them.


Fine, it's your choice what you grow where - but your 'de-docked' and
daisy enhanced lawn still isn't 'natural' IMHO, it's cultivated to
accord with your preferences.


It may not be 'natural' (few environments are in Britain), but it's a
richer environment. A perfect green lawn is a monoculture - sometimes
one where even worms are unwelcome.

Nothing wrong with real lawn enthusiasts growing perfect velvet grass
lawns, but it is nice to see people appreciating 'mixed' lawns too.

For example, the RHS doesn't seem to recognise anything between a grass
lawn and a wildflower meadow (going by its online advice section). Most
people don't have room for a meadow, but a patchwork quilt of plants is
do-able.

If the RHS and other authorities acknowledged this alternative approach
more widely, it might mean that DIY and garden centres (which so many
people use for guidance on 'what should I do to my garden') might
consider having other things in their 'lawn' sections than pesticides
and grass seed, (and more small kids would have the chance to make daisy
chains!)

Bugle is very long-flowering in my lawn, and the purple makes a nice
change from the daisies and clover. But I think the best lawn flowers
of all are the smaller speedwells. Will take a fair bit of treading
too, though probably not ideal for regular games of football.

(If you have guinea-pigs, you can get a really superb speedwell lawn -
they trim the grass down, but don't seem to care for the taste of
speedwell, so in spring your lawn is a mass of shimmering blue - looks
truly fantastic!

Victoria