With grass seed in shorter supply, due to high heat, droughts and wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, where it is mainly farmed, as well as Covid-related supply-chain issues, many ecologically minded landscapers and homeowners are turning to alternatives to the American Dream lawn – and the chemicals it often requires to maintain its pristine verdure. These alternatives include moss, mulch, perennials, ornamental grasses, meadow and gravel. Recently, The New York Times discussed the concept of the gravel garden, which goes beyond the spare Zen beauty of the Japanese rock garden to consider the relationship between gravel and plantings, saving the gardener time and expense in the long run.
