I’m about to plunge into a series of posts about gardens I visited in San Francisco late last month, but first I must share my excitement about a mention of Lawn Gone! that appears in this month’s Audubon magazine.

Titled “Food Network,” the article by Rene Ebersole starts on page 42 of the August 2013 issue.

On page 44 she pulls a quote from my book — a commentary on the cookie-cutter landscapes that result when homeowners across the country plant the same few species of foundation shrubs and wall-to-wall lawn, as opposed to using at least some native plants that reflect the unique beauty of one’s region. Native plants are also uniquely suited to the needs of native species of wildlife, and the focus of the article is on how individual homeowners can help struggling native bird populations through thoughtful plant choices.

Doug Tallamy, native plant advocate and author of the seminal Bringing Nature Home, is referenced throughout the article, which makes a compelling case for adding more native plants to the garden. While I’m no absolutist (shout-out to the passionate purist Benjamin Vogt), I do believe in planting a significant percentage of natives for wildlife and for a regionally appropriate look.

“Food Network” is worth a read, and not just because my book gets a mention (ha!). Look for it on newsstands and in bookstores this month. Oh, and my thanks to Dallas gardener Peter Schaar for alerting me to the article!

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