Jim Hampton gazes proudly at his finely manicured lawn and the flourishing plants outside his home in the affluent southern Californian city of Agoura Hills.
For the 60-year-old automation engineer, his garden represents the fruits of a long career.
However, if local officials have their way his green grass — and that of his neighbours — may soon wither amid a historic drought that has ravaged the American West.
Elsewhere … U.K. movement No Mow May gains traction across Canada as municipalities urge residents to let their grass grow
On recent morning walks, City of Fredericton Councillor Kevin Darrah has found his neighbours’ lawns to be increasingly unkempt. They match the weedy pastures around the maritime capital’s water towers, fire stations, arenas, waterfront trail system and public parks.
But the overgrowth is by design: Fredericton is one of several Canadian Municipalities engaging in No Mow May, a grassroots movement encouraging people to keep their mowers retired until June, and allow flora to grow to give pollinators such as bees, butterflies and beetles better access to nectar early in the year. Darrah, the Chair of the City’s Environmental Stewardship Committee, said Fredericton is keeping 25 per cent of its city-managed lawns uncut for the month, and that many citizens have also chosen to participate.
