There are battles here when people try to transition from a traditional lawn to native plants that do not fit in with the monotony of lawn grass. I have not run into into problems as of yet, but my front is still pretty traditional, I'm transitioning to sedges and other natives. However, I do know people that have had a representative of weed control for the city come to inspect their property after complaints. I'm glad I do not have an HOA or I probably would have never been able to do what I am currently doing.


Peace

mostly native plants. I was helped by a specialist in permaculture, meaning the plants were chosen to complement and help each other (for example, I planted Baptisia, a legume, next to the fruit trees). As the plants grew and filled in they crowded out most of the undesirable plants, so I don't even have to do a lot of weeding - although that very annoying creeping bellflower keeps turning up. The city hasn't given me any trouble - this is something that seems to be catching on around here - but my next-door neighbor has been a total dick about it, and even went so far as to spray Round-Up on the plants along the property line two summers ago, killing a couple of shrubs and a small tree. Lawyers got involved so there haven't been any problems since, but he made it obvious from the beginning that he objects to my "wild-looking" lawn. Too bad.

This morning when I went out to get the newspaper I saw a monarch butterfly and a tiger swallowtail butterfly and dozens of bees on the monarda and the purple coneflowers. Made my day.

My monarda finally got done blooming, but while they were blooming there were a ton of bees all over them. I am now also seein g a lot of tiger swallowtails.

Do you trim down your monarda in the spring so they stay more bushy and do not get as tall?

Peace

This year they're unusually tall. Some of them are about used up so I should start deadheading them pretty soon. I really like watching all the different kinds of bees that visit them.