BY BONNIE LEE STRUNK

Special to The Press

Sometimes I wonder whether I was born into the wrong family.

When my sister was visiting my backyard in spring, she suddenly bent over and tried to pull up a dandelion.

“No,” I shouted. “It’s pretty. I like it.”

She responded, “It’s a weed.”

And so it goes. One person’s weed is another’s wildflower.

I much prefer the relaxed look over the meticulously manicured grassy lawns that my siblings, and many folks, seem to find attractive.

Even in carefully-tended public displays, such as Longwood Gardens, I gravitate toward the meadow section, finding peace and beauty in its naturalness.

At the New York Botanical Garden, I always spend the most time in the native plant garden, which features more than 450 native species.

To me, such spaces look less intruded upon by man.

Our mother’s memorial tree is planted along a stream, in a wooded area near a hiking trail.

My siblings and I agreed that plants would enhance the area surrounding her tree, but that’s where the agreement ended.

They wanted tulips and daffodils.

I thought native plants and shrubs which would occur naturally in that type of setting would be a better choice and would look like they belong there.

Because I offered to pay for all the plants and their installation, our mom’s oak tree is surrounded by a variety of charming plants and shrubs suited to that woodsy environment.

My sisters say it all looks like weeds to them.

Seeing some wild violets or snakeroot or ground ivy or even dandelions popping up in my backyard is not a cause for alarm.

I would never dream of buying herbicides to murder those plants.

The bees and other pollinators enjoy the nectar and I enjoy the pretty flowers.

Over the years my late husband and I reduced our lawn area and gradually created a biodiverse landscape, with trees, shrubs and perennials.

This season I converted another little patch of lawn.

I did not have to mow once this year.

Not only does lawn reduction save time, it also provides shelter and food for wildlife visitors.

A little research turned up a few alarming facts about traditional American lawns:

More than 20 million acres in the U.S. are planted as residential lawns.

Approximately 67 million pounds of synthetic pesticides are used on lawns each year, not to mention all the water wasted trying to maintain green grass.

Anyone wishing to reduce the size of a lawn, thus reducing lawn maintenance, is advised to start small and work in phases.

Our backyard conversion has been ongoing for more than a decade.

Consider the many alternatives from which to choose.

For example, a plot of grass could be replaced by native groundcovers that add habitat value for birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators.

Perhaps a rock garden or water garden would work.

Or, how about adding a few native trees and/or mass plantings of shrubs to an area that had been grass.

Consider annual or perennial beds of flowering plants. A butterfly or hummingbird garden could be exciting.

Some homeowners convert a piece of lawn to a hedgerow.

Others plant organic vegetable gardens. My neighbor took that approach. And he shares his bounty with me!

Even folks obsessed with their lawns and not ready to downsize can make their outdoor spaces more naturalistic and ecologically sound.

Learn to enjoy the diversity when different species appear unexpectedly in the lawn.

I am pleasantly surprised every spring.

Allow the lawn to go dormant in the heat and/or drought of summer.

If feasible, use a reel (push) mower. This helps reduce pollution and provides exercise, too.

Don’t collect and dispose of grass clippings. Let them be.

Plant a grass suited to the area, to avoid the need for water, fertilizer and pesticides.

Try a short native variety to reduce the need for frequent mowing.

For me, the outdoors provides an escape from life’s stresses.

Having a visually striking, harmonious little haven enhances the total experience - for humans and for wildlife.