Piedmont Prairie

I first heard the term "Piedmont Prairie" from Matthew Arnsberger, the landscape designer out of Carrboro. We built one together in downtown Pittsboro in 1995 at a building behind the post office. Its since been turned back into turf grass by the current owners.

Not everyone sees the world the same way...

Now we have a Piedmont Prairie at the Plant. It was installed by our friends at Leaf and Limb. They are the arborist company out of Raleigh that doesn't really cut down trees.

They came and killed the turf. Then they seeded. And compacted. Then they came and weed whacked selectively. They've worked hard at building a masterpiece on the hill that greets visitors to the Plant.

Piedmont Prairies are comprised of native varieties of plants. Therefore they provide chow for insects with which they have co-evolved for thousands of years.

They are lower maintenance than turf. Require less water. Cost less in the long term.

At the same time that I have watched Leaf and Limb develop their Piedmont Prairie @ the Plant, I have abandoned "caring" for my front yard.

It would not be fair to compare the two, exactly, since Leaf and Limb's project is well thought out and my yard is merely neglected. Neglect is something I am good at. Let's call my yard "naturalized."

Despite being unfair, I compare them anyway.

In the early spring I felt like the two patches of dirt were "tied."

My yard was filled with daisies, coreopsis, black eyed susans and a mountain of fleabane.

Their Piedmont Prairie was roughly populated with the same varieties and I felt smug. Neglect tied 1:1 with construction.

But as we have moved into summer heat, I kinda have to hand it to the Piedmont Prairie. More varieties. More color. More bugs. My yard is kinda burnt--their project is lush and fecund.

It leaves me grateful for the work they do...