from wild weeds to a blooming drought-tolerant garden
Last summer, I finally convinced my family to swap out the stubborn drought-tolerant weeds that had taken over our front yard for vibrant, water-wise flowers. I still remember my grandmother’s old garden—lush, green, and always needing a hose in hand. But times have changed here in the Southwest. Water bills climb, summers grow harsher, and neighbors whisper about who’s wasting water.
Now, a year later, our yard is a patchwork of color—blanket flowers, penstemons, and yarrow—each one thriving where the weeds once ruled. My husband misses the wild look, says it reminds him of his childhood, but I love the order and the way butterflies flock to our blooms. The older folks on our street stop to chat, some admiring the transformation, others grumbling that it’s not the classic lawn they grew up with.
There’s a quiet tug-of-war in our community: tradition versus necessity, beauty versus responsibility. Some days, I wonder if we’ve lost a bit of that old neighborhood charm. Other days, I see my granddaughter picking flowers and think maybe we’re starting a new tradition—one that fits our climate and our times. What do you think: should we cling to the old ways, or embrace a new kind of beauty for our changing world?
#droughttolerant #gardeningdebate #familytraditions #Gardening
