my north american front yard: tradition vs. trends

When I look out at my front yard, I’m swept back to childhood summers spent with my grandmother, her hands deep in the soil, teaching me the names of every flower. Back then, gardens were wild, overflowing with native blooms and buzzing bees. Now, in our North American neighborhoods, I see more and more neighbors swapping out those old-fashioned perennials for neat rows of drought-tolerant succulents and manicured lawns. Sometimes I wonder—are we losing something precious in this shift? My neighbor, Mrs. Carter, still tends her peonies and lilacs, insisting that the scent reminds her of her mother’s garden. But across the street, the new family has replaced their grass with gravel and cacti, citing water restrictions and low maintenance. It’s a tug-of-war between memory and modernity, between what feels like home and what fits the climate. This spring, as unpredictable weather sweeps through our region, the debate grows louder. Some say we must adapt, letting go of thirsty plants for the sake of the environment. Others argue that these gardens are our heritage, a living memory of those who came before us. I find myself caught in the middle, longing for the old while recognizing the need for change. As I dig in my own patch of earth, I wonder: can we find a balance? Or will the push for sustainability erase the gardens that shaped our childhoods? #gardeningdebate #traditionvschange #northamericangardens #Gardening