On 2008-05-04 10:58:53 -0400, "barbie.gee" said:

On one hand I see all the wild grasses and forested areas where
vegetation grows on it own. On the other the gardening shops sell us
things that require constant attention and often fail!

This is also a good opportunity to interact with your neighbors and a
local gardening club. Many things that do well and are native to an
area need to be thinned each year. This creates an opportunity to share
plants. People who garden generally enjoy talking about it and sharing
their knowledge - as well as their plants.

There are a lot of urban gardeners. Keep your eyes open and stop to chat...