A woman who replaced her front lawn with native plants was issued a fine because officials said it was too ugly. CBS News New York’s Carolyn Gusoff reports.
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SHIRLEEN YOUNG. HER FRONT YARD IS BEAUTIFUL. >> IT’S A VERY NATURAL LOOK BUTTERFLIES, BEES AND BIRDS COMING. IT’S NOT JUST SOME GRASS DOING NOTHING. >> BUT HER VILLAGE MAYOR SEES IT VERY DIFFERENTLY. >> WHEN UGLY IS THAT OVERWHELMING? YOU HAVE TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS. THAT FRONT YARD LOOKS HIDEOUS. >> IT’S THE OUTGROWTH OF A TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD GRANT TO ENCOURAGE NATIVE PLANT GARDENS. >> WOW. >> FREE PLANTS. GREAT. I’M TAKING THAT. >> BUT THE LOOK CLASHES WITH HER VILLAGE CODE. SHE RECEIVED THIS SUMMONS WITH A FINE OF UP TO $2,000. >> FAILED TO MAINTAIN YARD. >> YOUNG SAYS THIS IS MAINTAINED. NATIVE LONG ISLAND PLANTS GROW WITHOUT CHEMICALS AND HELP ABSORB RAINWATER. BUT THE MAYOR SAYS THE TRANSFORMATION IS TROUBLING. >> WHICH PROPERTY WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO? >> NATIVE PLANT ADVOCATES HERE IN PORT WASHINGTON HAVE LAUNCHED A MOVEMENT TO GET SUBURBANITES TO DITCH THEIR LAWNS. THEY SAY GARDENS LIKE THIS ONE ARE MORE ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE OF THEIR BENEFITS. >> SUSTAINABLE GARDENS ARE NOT JUST BEAUTIFUL FOR THE EYE. THEY PROTECT OUR DRINKING WATER. WE’RE TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THESE BIG GREEN LAWNS THAT ARE SUCKING UP TOO MUCH WATER FROM OUR AQUIFER. >> THERE ARE LOTS OF TOWNS ON LONG ISLAND WHICH ARE ACTUALLY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PUT IN WILDFLOWERS BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT ALL THAT POLLUTION GOING INTO THE BAY. >> AFTER FOUR ROUNDS IN COURT, A COMPROMISE, THE SUMMONS DISMISSED, THE GARDEN CAN STAY AT A HEIGHT OF UNDER FOUR FEET. THE MAYOR SAYS FOR THE IDEA TO CATCH ON, HE THINKS THE LOOK SHOULD BE MORE PLEASING. >> THERE POTENTIALLY IS A HAPPY MEDIUM THAT, IN MY OPINION, IS NOT IT. >> YOUNG HOPES TO ENCOURAGE A CHANGE IN MINDSET ABOUT WHAT LOOKS GOOD IN THE GARDEN. >> WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, DO THE RIGHT THING FOR US AND FOR THE PLANET. >> AND SHE’S PUT UP A SIGN TO MAKE HER CASE CLEAR. THIS ISN’T NEGLECT. IT’S A CONSCIOUS CHOICE. IN NEW HYDE PARK, LONG ISLAND, CAROLYN GUSOFF, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK. >> I DON’T THINK THE MAYOR IS GOING TO CHANGE HIS MIND ON THIS ONE.
46 Comments
Most of those aren't native plants they're native weeds. There is a difference between a plant and a weed. Which she is cultivating is a lawn full of weeds.
? Americans so weird? Everything fined. So much time to waste to complain bout flowers. Lol
0:12 that mayor needs to take a long sober look in the mirror
When society are strict with what your house would look like. But not strict with rapid increase of criminal acts. Damn what a world!
I get that to the folks in the neighborhood who maintain their American lawns see this woman’s lawn as an eye sore, but I also see the lady’s point of view. It’s good for the environment, and local bees and insects.
I think it should be the choice of the homeowner
Here's a compromise: I paid for the house, I do what I want with my lawn.
Lmao no that's what happens when you don't cut your grass for a whole summer
Might be natural, but there are reasons for lawns. They help to deter pests, like insects, rats, and mice. And let’s not forget ticks, which have become a massive problem in the last few years.
I’m all for gardens. But directly next to your home, or others, is a bit much.
that mayor is a pos fr 😒
Take to the sea. There is no owning land in the US
I think her yard looks remarkable.
Ah what?
Dang how sick is the US?
Who cares about the form? What about the function?
Christopher Devane is the mayor crying about it. Everyone spam him!!
Those are weeds lady….
Poison ivy is also native to New York, but you don’t go planting it in the neighborhood. Many plants can be invasive and that’s where the problem lies. In many neighborhoods, you are restricted to the types of species you may plant, and also how many you may have in a front facing lawn.
Lawns are a tribute to vanity. A huge waste of water. That mayor is awful.
Okay Karen.
Land of the free btw
natural mosquito repellents needed !
this is something you'd hear in the GTA 5 radio
Looks horrible
Let me guess…it happened in USA??😎
It definitely looks unmaintained and not clean at all. But if it's her property, she should be able to do whatever she wants to do with it. HOA's need to be abolished, it's long overdue.
It's a meadow, right? It looks beautiful to me.
Nothing more beautiful than nature.
0:42 next to her
We are so removed from nature, we don’t even know what is natural.
USA multiple standards😂
Freedom in merica!
The yard looks fine
I mean it does look kinda bad. We have native plants and we do maintenance, that just looks like overgrowth.
this some onion news
HOAs area already infamous for annoying regulations like this, but I could never imagine a municipality would act like an HOA. If I bought a piece of property I should be allowed to do whatever I want as long as it's legal on it. Growing native plants is perfectly legal.
Natural foliage is way better than palm trees
The plants r so pretttyyyyyy, I would feel like im breathing more fresh air:0
The birds, the bees, the rats… lol
Ok to have one or two of these but more cover means more animals…
People who are Obsessed with lawns can't understand that we don't care what our neighbors lawns look like
We need MORE native gardens!!
"Which property would you like to live next door to?" This one.
Looks amazing
They needo to REQUIRE yards be like hers, not the opposite.
God forbid a lady get into growing something that’s not boxwood, privit, and 🤢 LAWN
Anyone who is educated in native plants or saving the environment, and pollinators understand the benefits of native gardens. 💖🌿🦋🐛🐝
good for her. love native plants 💚🌿