As you walk or drive around your neighborhood (hey...get some exercise!) you will find that 99% of your neighbors have lush green front lines, with a few shrubs next to the house. They all look the same - they are all probably fertilized three times a year and watered frequently.

Waste, waste, waste.

Having an extensive lawn – beautiful or otherwise – has become more than a "keeping up with the Jones'" past-time, but also a status symbol.

And yet maintaining such a lawn requires a lot of work. Certainly many people enjoy that work, it's their favorite hobby to get away from the stress of their real jobs. In lawn design and care they can exert their own will on what grows and what does not, where this plant will grow and where that tree will be removed because the flowers need more sunlight.

It's time to think about your lawn from a natural perspective. By applying pesticides and herbicides you may get exactly the look you want for the present, but eventually it will cause long-term harm to your environment. Not "the environment," but "your environment."

One solution is to garden naturally. Choose grasses that are native to your area, and which will attract the appropriate wild-life - bring back the birds! Forget about those man-made and obtrusive bird-houses – give the birds real homes to nest in.

The first step is to get a regional field guide, which will tell you what kinds of flowers, plants and grasses attract what kinds of birds and butterflies to your yard.

Would you like to see lots of butterflies, hummingbirds and bees? (Yes, bees come with the deal. Deal with it - they're pollinating.) Plant nectar-rich wild flowers in sunny areas to attract them. Tubular red and purple flowers are a draw, as are sunflowers, asters and daisies.

Help out migrating birds. Plant regionally appropriate female shrubs and ornamental trees which provide fruits for birds on their winter and spring migrations - wax myrtle, yaupon holly, toyon. For fall migrators, dogwood, sumac, even a fruit tree.

Shady areas need evergreen or thicket shrubs, so birds can hide, sleep or nest. Use nutritious ground cover as well, such as Turk's cap, pigeonberry or inland seaoat.

See a spider in your house? Don't kill it. Just take it outside. Don't destroy any spider webs you see, either. Spiders, caterpillars, even ants, belong in your garden. You don't want them in your house, obviously, but they are essential to your garden.

A bird bath - standing on bare earth - is a thing of joy and beauty for birds. Be careful where you place it, of course. Place it strategically so that feral cats are unable to sneak up on the occupants.