Join nature writer and Humane Gardener founder Nancy Lawson as she hosts a panel discussion among leading experts who have been on the front lines of advocating in MD and VA for allowing low-impact, native habitat landscaping in common interest communities such as Homeowner Associations (HOAs). It happens too often that environmentally conscious homeowners convert their lawns to native plants only to be reprimanded by their homeowners’ association for growing “weeds,” leaving stalks up for birds, or refusing to use pesticides. But even in an HOA, wildlife-friendly landscaping doesn’t have to be DOA (dead on arrival). Hear about a recent landmark case in Maryland that led to a state law codifying wildlife-friendly gardens, sparking similar efforts in HOAs, towns and counties across the nation, including a push for new legislation to support this initiative in Virginia in early 2024.
Join in the discussion with local experts from MD and VA, including Janet Crouch, Melinda Soltys, and Barbara Ryan (read more about them below!). This conversation will include a Q&A with the audience as we share ideas for continuing the unstoppable momentum toward new ethics and practices in home landscaping.
About our moderator and panelists:
Nancy Lawson is the author of The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife and the recently released Wildscape: Trilling Chipmunks, Beckoning Blooms, Salty Butterflies, and other Sensory Wonders of Nature. A nature writer, habitat consultant, popular speaker, and founder of The Humane Gardener, LLC, she pioneers creative, wildlife-friendly landscaping methods.
Janet Crouch is conservation advocate living in Howard County, Maryland. Over 15 years ago, she and her husband converted their front lawn into beautiful pollinator gardens. However, their homeowners’ association ultimately sent them a letter from their lawyer demanding that the convert the gardens back to turfgrass. Janet and her husband ultimately filed a lawsuit against their HOA which was eventually settled and allowed them to retain virtually all of their garden.
Melinda Soltys, a Virginia resident, is a wildlife and native plant advocate and enthusiast, president of Wild Ones Nova Seedling chapter, and parent. In addition to creating wildlife habitat at her home in Northern Virginia, she is a site leader with the Fairfax County Invasive Management Area program and is restoring habitat at a local park through removing invasive species and repopulating with our native Virginia plants.
Barbara Ryan is the founder and owner of Chain Bridge Native Landscapes LLC in McLean. She holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Landscape Design from The George Washington University and is a certified Virginia Horticulturist (VNLA), Level 2 Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP), and Fairfax Master Naturalist.
Mani Kurian is a resident of Ellicott City (Maryland) where lives with his wife and two sons in a large, single-home HOA community. In 2007, a year after Mani and his family moved into the community, Mani began replacing his turf grass with flower beds, but was immediately met with HOA violation notices. The HOA brought a Howard County Circuit Court case against him in 2021. Armed with the power of the new state law that Janet Crouch had championed, Mani represented himself and won the case against him.