NO MOW MAY

BEES AND BEEHIVES

I like to think I'm environmentally cognizant but apparently I have a few things to learn. On May first the first in a string of comments popped up on the email feed on our neighborhood communication tool know as the Nextdoor Digest. It had to do with bees, mowing your lawn and the accusation of murder. There was one neighbor who had a lot to say. Here's how it went:

"I heard a lawnmower going across the street. I went over and told the lady that I bet she hadn't heard of the "No Mow May" policy. I assured her she wouldn't be fined. She, immediately, answered, "You mean about the bees!" So, it's obvious she knew about the policy and the reasons for it. Her defense was that her neighbor had, already, mowed and that she "couldn't" (wouldn't) wait to mow. People know better than what they are doing. Pollinators are getting it from all sides! Pesticides, banned in Europe, are used here. It is thought that herbicide residue remains in the corn syrup, used to replace their stolen honey. Small wonder, in wide areas of our country, over 90% of hives have "collapsed"--that's to avoid saying the bees all died!"

When you start out by insinuating your neighbor is a murderer seems like you should be expecting some response. This was the type of comment that kind of demands a reaction and just like that the neighbors started hitting their keyboards. What my initial furrowed brow and inquisitive mind wanted to know was when the neighbor said that "she heard a lawnmower going across the street" was that driverless mower headed for her yard? Was this an act of neighborhood warfare? 

 The first string of words to collectively tie themselves together on my laptop's screen were polite, non-threatening, and merely inquisitive

"Is this a policy or a recommendation? "Policy" makes it sound as though people aren't allowed to mow as opposed to shouldn't mow."

Let the debate begin. With the question out there, the gauntlet had been tossed. The defense of the concept was the first to hit the reply button.

"Participating in #NoMowMay can have a significantly positive impact on bees, according to a 2020 study. This study measured floral and bee richness and abundance with impressive findings: yards participating in No Mow May had three-times higher bee species richness and five-times higher bee abundance than nearby parks that had been mowed"

"I think all the creeping Charlie, violets and dandelions are so beautiful. Who is there to impress???

Clearly this weed lover hasn't met us. We are the kings of curb appeal and we are definitely out to impress. Nothing makes us smile more than a car stopping or in a few incidents a car actually passing by then backing up to shout out how much they loved our front garden

Good curb appeal makes for good neighbors and we've gone so far as to dole out free design guidance to a few of our neighbors who have asked for our help with their curb appeal

After the pros of No Mow May were danced across the internet it didn't take long for the other side of the coin to show its face

"No way can I avoid mowing my backyard. With two good sized dogs, long grass makes cleaning up after them a gross mess."

"So which one of you is going to mow my yard for free June 1 when it's almost 2 feet tall?"

" May is one of the fastest growing months! If I did not mow in May, there is NO WAY I would be able to get my mower through it."

" I mowed my lawn but I still have dandelions and violets. I don't want my neighbors calling the city on me"

The vitriol did manage to take what I now assume was an unintentional  break and like any good novel added a touch of light-heartedness to the dialogue:

"We decided to do a mullet lawn for May :) Short in the front for "curb appeal," long in the back for the pollinators, chickens, and daughters that love bringing me dandelion bouquets"

We did the "mullet too. We mowed the terrace to keep the City Happy and leave (sic) the backyard a short meadow. Does that work?"

The mullet concept was a bad idea in the eighties. I haven't turned the corner on this one. It still seems like a bad idea to me even when it comes to a look for your lawn.

The mullet wasn't the only fashion statement some neighbors were willing to suggest.

"It's really challenging to mow once the grass is super tall. Ours was getting out of control so we had to mow or it would be impossible to get through. Our option, if you have to mow, Is to leave the dandelions and violets around the edges and just mow the really long grassy areas in the middle."

I hate to make so many hair analogies but come on, clip the center and leaving the edges go wild is not a great look.

I get the message and the reason why "No Mow May" is something we all need to be made aware of. Bees are a very important part of our ecosystem but minimizing their culinary appetite to dandelions and creeping Charlie seems a little unfair.

Neglecting your turf grass lawn and allowing it to be overrun with weeds, in the long run, isn't a healthy option for your yard.

If you  are truly concerned with your communities bee population maintain some native plantings, don't use harmful herbicides and keep your flower beds blooming for not just the month of May but for the entire growing season. The bees will be very thankful and so will your lawn. But most importantly don't try to demonize a neighbor or you might be the one getting stung.

THE GALLERY

Ronald Fisher, Beekeeper, Davis, California, 1981, Richard Avedon, photographer, represented by Pace Gallery, New York