City sues couple who removed their lawn

[Liberal_in_LA]

Orange officials sue couple who removed their lawn

City codes require that live landscaping cover 40% of the yard. Quan and Angelina Ha say their water use has dropped 80% since they replaced the grass with wood chips and drought-tolerant plants.


Some Southern California cities fine residents for watering their lawns too much during droughts.

But in Orange, officials are locked in a legal battle with a couple accused of violating city ordinances for removing their lawn in an attempt to save water.

The dispute began two years ago, when Quan and Angelina Ha tore out the grass in their frontyard. In drought-plagued Southern California, the couple said, the lush grass had been soaking up tens of thousands of gallons of water -- and hundreds of dollars -- each year.

They said they were trying to do something good for the environment.

"We've got a newborn, so we want to start worrying about her future," said Quan Ha, an information technology manager for Kelley Blue Book.

But city officials told the Has they were violating several city laws that require residents to cover significant portions of their frontyards with live ground cover. On Tuesday, the couple is scheduled to appear in Orange County Superior Court to challenge the city's lawsuit against them.

Soon after the city complained about the yard, the Has placed wood chips on top of the dirt, with help from neighbor Dennis Cleek.

"It's their yard, it's not overgrown with weeds, it's not an eyesore," said Cleek, whose own yard boasts fruit trees. "We should be able to have our yards look the way we want them to."

But city officials determined the fix was not acceptable, saying city codes require that 40% of the yard be landscaped predominantly with live plants.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bad-lawn2-2010mar02,0,3613612.story

[sasquatch]

1. Hello, they live in a fucking desert

I appluad them for doing the right thing.

[FreakinDJ]

9. People in Northern Calif appluad them too

We are tired of draining all our lakes and killing off salmon runs to send the water south

[laughingliberal]

96. Northern Nevada, too. Think they've been after ours for a while, too. nt

[BoWanZi]

11. I do too! I hope they win. (nt)

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. It's 12 miles away from the Pacific Ocean.

I hardly think it was ever "desert".

[Gabi Hayes]

14. have you ever heard of a country called Chile?

jesus

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. You mean Denison has a country?

Ever been to Orange, CA? I grew up a few miles away. Desert? I don't think so.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

25. Orange, CA? 13.8 inches precip. per year.

Only slightly above the 10 inch/year to technically qualify as a desert.

[cherokeeprogressive]

27. If 27.5% is your definition of only slightly, then I guess Orange, CA is truly a desert.

:rofl:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. 3.8 inches is my definition of only slightly.

In an off year, it's a desert.

Oh, and I like how you thought that things aren't deserts if they're next to the ocean. You know what's also next to the ocean? The Sahara.

[cherokeeprogressive]

31. Oh, try as you might Pron, HISTORICALLY, ON AVERAGE

Its rainfall is 27.5% over what you say is "technically" called "desert". Let's put those numbers in context, shall we?

When the national speed limit was 55, 27.5% over that was 70+ mph

A politician who loses a two candidate election by 27.5% loses by a margin of almost 65/35.

In an off year, it could be as dry as the sand in an hourglass, I don't give a fuck. Historically, on average, it's 27.5% above the 10 inches you say constitutes "desert".

I know that the Sahara extends to the ocean. Would you mind comparing the relative latitudes of Orange, CA, and the Sahara Desert for me? For DU? Put it out there and then defend the comparison.

[Confusious]

33. Tucson, AZ gets 12 inches a year

We're in a desert.

They shouldn't be using that much water for grass. It's a waste.

[cherokeeprogressive]

34. They no longer use water for grass. In the last two years they've decreased

their water usage by 81%.

[Confusious]

35. I'm talking about the other people in orange county.

Not the people in the article. It's a desert.

And the city ordnance should be changed.

[itsrobert]

37. Orange County is not a desert by far

Do you know why they named it "Orange" County?

[amborin]

41. do you know how much water the orange groves need? sad as it is

to see the groves in so cal disappear to concrete, orange trees are not native and require much water

[itsrobert]

48. Regardless, OC is not a desert.

that is a fact.

[Confusious]

59. Lots of plants in the "Sonoran Desert"

It still qualifies as a "desert."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoran_Desert

Nice pictures of the plants.

A desert is a landscape or region that receives almost no precipitation. Deserts are defined as areas with an average annual precipitation of less than 250 millimeters (10 in) per year,<1><2>


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert

It's a desert, and they shouldn't use so much water.

[petronius]

108. I don't think oranges need all that much water, actually - they are a subtropical

fruit and will be happy with less than 20", and perhaps much less. Of course, they will want some of that in the summer, which would require diversion of our scarce snowmelt.

Hydrologically, I think citrus is pretty appropriate for southern California, except that the competing water demands (urban/residential) have grown far out of proportion and there are more lucrative uses for the grove lands...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

45. Because of all the oranges.

Which only grow thanks to irrigation.

[itsrobert]

46. Actually, there was not much irrigation back in the early 30's

Have you seen the Grapes of Wrath?

[itsrobert]

38. What's the average temperatures in Tucson?

Desert is more than just a lack of rain.

[Cleobulus]

47. Uhm no, it is basically just because of lack of rain, ever heard of the Gobi Desert?

Jesus, how the hell can people be this ignorant? :eyes:

[itsrobert]

49. Does the Gobi Desert get a marine layer

Or do the Mountains block the marine layer from entering?

Face it. You have no idea what your talking about.

[amborin]

53. actually,

*many* parts of so cal do not get any marine layer

one literally passes an invisible barrier into the marine layer, approximately 10 miles from the coast, give or take....

[itsrobert]

57. Yes, but we are discussing Orange County

A good percentage of that is in that 10 miles strench. Other areas of OC are in the hills, do desert have enough vegetation to have routine brush fires?

[Confusious]

58. There are lots of plants here in the "sonoran desert"

It still qualifies as a "desert."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoran_Desert

Nice pictures of the plants.

A desert is a landscape or region that receives almost no precipitation. Deserts are defined as areas with an average annual precipitation of less than 250 millimeters (10 in) per year,<1><2>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert

It's a desert, and they shouldn't use so much water.

[itsrobert]

60. Cant you read your own facts?

OC get more than 10 inches a rain a year. Why do you insist on saying it's desert when your own facts say it isn't?

[Confusious]

61. Because Tucson gets 12In per year

And qualifies as a "desert"

A desert is not just a place that has a lot of sand.

[itsrobert]

62. Tucson is a 100 plus degrees from May to September

OC does not come anywhere close to that.

It's not a desert by any strech of the imagination.

[Confusious]

63. Doesn't matter how hot it gets, or how cold

Just how much water it gets. Antarctica is considered a desert. Wouldn't think that would you?

If Tucson used as much water as OC, you wouldn't know it's a desert either.

[itsrobert]

64. There are several factors why OC is not a desert

Citing other places that are deserts does not make OC a desert.

[Confusious]

65. Well you were talking about how hot it got here

In the summertime, and I was just expanding upon it showing that other places which are hot or cold are deserts.

if OC only gets 13.5 inches of rain a year and Tucson is a desert that gets 12in of rain a year, you're in a desert.

If you're having to use 300,000 gallons of water a year to keep 40% grass, you're in a desert.

Sorry, but the facts are, you're in a desert.

The only reason it doesn't look that way is because California uses so much damn water.

[itsrobert]

68. Please cite your source for Orange County being a desert?

I see you can cite Antartica, the GOBI desert, Tucson, the Sahara,etc as deserts. So where is your source that OC is a desert?

A. You will find no credible source listing Orange County as a desert.

[Confusious]

75. I gave you the facts

I'm sorry you don't want to believe them. Maybe this is the reason California is always crying about water and taking more then their share from the rest of the Colorado compact states. They don't want to wake up to the reality of where they live.

Tucson 12 in/y

Orange county 13.5 in/y

Dallas TX 35 in/y

Alaki swamp on Mount Wai’ale’ale, Hawaii 486 in/y

Seems you're closer to a desert then a lush tropical island. I guess the correct name would be semi-arid. Doesn't seem to be much of a difference to me though. I still think you're a desert.

On Edit: After looking around, the correct term is semi-arid desert

[itsrobert]

80. No the correct term is " Mediterrean Climate"

and you still haven't cited your source saying OC is a desert.

Why do you think there are frequent brush fires in Orange County? You think all that vegetation just pops up out of thin air? Do you think Californians are out watering the hill sides?

[Confusious]

82. There's vegetation in the Sonoran Desert

Lots of it. You can go to the desert museum during the spring and look out on the plains and watch wildflowers bloom.

Didn't you look at my link?

It's still a desert.

I'm not so sure to what extent people in Southern California realize that they are actually in a semi-arid, if not an arid, desert area. Many people who drive through the streets and see all the lush grass and trees think they are in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, or the eastern U.S. The reality is that we are in a semi-arid region. Anyone just needs to observe all of the hills and undeveloped areas that are not covered with grass. It is desert.

University of California Ervine

http://www.physsci.uci.edu/psnews/?id=326

Another from Orange county water ( calling it a desert )

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=11&ved=0CAUQFjAAOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocwd.com%2Ffv-99.aspx&ei=exGOS42zGobWtgO9udjMCA&usg=AFQjCNHsXZwsjUImpQmRDylijP26mxKawQ

Another calling it a desert

http://www.waterandwastewater.com/www_services/newsletter/september_9_2002.htm

Orange county voice calling it a desert

http://www.ocvoice.org/?p=259

[itsrobert]

86. Your sources

Now it's a "semi-desert"? Wow, you are really reaching with those sources.

Looks around Orange County Hills and you don't see grass? Baloney.

I actually see a lot of brush and trees.

http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=tbn&q=&usg=AFQjCNEZKL7MwEX8c9ZeRm6K-h3Fhhf1sA

http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=tbn&q=&usg=AFQjCNGv0PTdbE5qZvo_qYSJkhNX6_D-AA

and a lot more pictures.

[XemaSab]

88. .

[itsrobert]

90. I have been there

And it's a desert, OC is not.

Here's some more pictures for you..









and many more pics

[Confusious]

89. The correct term is "semi-arid desert"

And two pictures does not a case make. I can go to

The point is, you use to much water for what you get, and no amount of arguing about whether or not it's a desert or "Mediterranean climate" is going to fix that.

Besides, I can find nice pictures of little areas around here too.



A desert can have trees to. Where do you think mesquite comes from? The Sonoran desert, New Mexico, all the way to Texas ( IN the desert!).

[itsrobert]

91. These aren't little areas

These are thousand an thousands of acres. You know nothing of OC. I have liveD in El Paso, visted Tucson and the surrounding area. Traveled the I-10, I-8, I-15 in the southwest extensively and I know where the Desert starts and ends.

[Confusious]

92. Doesn't look like it on google maps

Sorry, but you still didn't respond to the fact that OC gets only 13.5 in/y of rain and uses shitloads of water.

That's the entire point.

BTW 13.5 in/y puts you in the semi-arid classification. Which is desert to me. ( Or "Mediterranean" to you. still 13.5 in/y of rain )

A Semi-arid climate or steppe climate describes climatic regions that receive low annual precipitation, usually (but not always) between 250-500 mm (10-20 in) of precipitation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-arid_climate

You continuous argument about a inane point tells me California isn't going to solve it's water problem anytime soon, because you don't want to face the fact that you only get 13.5 in/y of rain.

that 1.5 isn't going to save those nice lawns, so you're going to keep pouring water on the problem to the detriment of everyone around you.

[itsrobert]

93. You're ignorant of Orange County. And you can't find

Thousand of acres of county parks on a Google map.

It's not a desert. Just because there are more people there than the climate can support doesn't make it one.

[Confusious]

94. Well, for the most part I am

Who wants to be, with inane programing on TV like "The OC." If I had watched that, I'd never get those trillions of braincells back.

It's not a desert. Just because there are more people there than the climate can't support doesn't make it one.

No, just the annual rainfall does.

Sorry, but I'm tired of arguing the point with you. Have fun in the desert!

[itsrobert]

95. I live in San Diego

Have a nice sleep. Maybe you will come to the realization you are wrong.

[cherokeeprogressive]

112. Some pictures of the Orange County Desert

These were taken inside O'Neill Regional Park, a 3100 acre facility in Trabuco Canyon.

[amborin]

69. yes,

i realize that; but *much* of orange county is greater than 10 miles from the ocean, and does not experience a marine layer;

i am not arguing the desert aspect;

[amborin]

72. actually,

the marine layer argument doesn't always work; to wit, Chile's Atacama coastal desert, in the north, gets enough coastal moisture to support a fair amount of cacti

[XemaSab]

73. You're the one who is wrong

Deserts are defined by lack of rainfall. There are VERY cold deserts in the world.

[itsrobert]

77. But OC is neither very cold or very hot

and it gets more than 10 inches of rainfall a year. There are many variables why OC is not a desert.

1. It gets more than 10 inches of rainfall a year (on average)
2. The Pacific Oceans provides a marine layer to some of it's area
3. Ocean breezes provide relief from the extreme temperature that are further inland over the OC hills. The hills actually trap the cooler air in, and provide a barrier from the hot desert heat.
4. Temperatures are in the low 60's in Winter and high 80's in the Summer. 90's and 100's do occur, but it's not the norm.
5. Most sources list OC as a mild mediterrain climate. No source list OC as a desert.

[itsrobert]

39. Don't forget marine layer and fog

Orange county is far from being a desert.

[amborin]

54. the fog in many parts of orange cty is a tule fog,

only the coastal areas experience 'marine' fog

[anigbrowl]

55. OC isn't exactly lush

And recall that despite winter rains, CA is facing a 4th year of drought. I mean, yeah, it's not the Mojave, but if you have to pour 200,000 gallons of water into your lawn you're living in a pretty dry environment.

[amborin]

70. but what remains of its native landscape is

actually quite lush; gorgeous live oaks, toyon, laurel sumac, sycamores, etc......very lush, native trees and shrubs

[XemaSab]

71. I'll play

Orange county is at the same latitude as Baghdad :P

[itsrobert]

74. And Baghad is located how far inland

And is the biggest Ocean in the World sitting right off it's perimeter?

[XemaSab]

79. You're very confused about deserts

The Atacama desert is about the driest place on earth, and it's right on the "biggest Ocean in the World."

Most of the precipitation is in the form of fog.

[itsrobert]

81. You are the one confused

As stated earlier in numerous post, there are several factors why OC is not a desert. One being is it not only has an Ocean breeze/Marine layer, but the number one reason is that it has more than 10 inches of rain a year.

Now please cite your source where it names Orange County, California a desert?

[XemaSab]

84. It has nothing to do with how inland an area is

Where did you get your degree in environmental science, by the way?

[itsrobert]

87. I know OC is not a desert

You may want to say it's a semi-desert to get half credit, but it's not a desert.

[laughingliberal]

98. Good. Then they can quit diverting water from the north. nt

[anigbrowl]

52. That doesn't stop it being a desert

Look at some middle eastern countries. you can be next to the sea and still be in a desert, if the heat and the soil are a certain way. SoCal is naturally hot and dry, notwithstanding the nearby ocean.

[XemaSab]

76. Soil nerd stepping in here

It's actually 100% based on rainfall, even in the Middle East.

Most rainfall patterns worldwide are controlled by Hadley cells, which are large-scale circulation patterns that move heat, moisture, and air throughout the atmosphere.

Air in the tropical rainforest is rising, which produces the rainfall. Air in the desert areas is (generally) sinking, which produces aridity. There is another area of rising which we call the jet stream, and the air at the poles is sinking.

Some deserts, such as the Atacama desert in Chile, are also heavily influenced by odd coastal influences.

But in general, there are two global bands of deserts. One is in the north and includes most of the southwest and northern Mexico, the Sahara, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Gobi. In the south you have the Atacama, the Namib, the Kalahari, and much of Australia.

Soil in the desert is only sandy insofar as finer particles get blown away, leaving sand particles to form dunes. Most desert soils actually have a lot of silt and clay in them too.

[petronius]

83. Speaking as a climate nerd, any useful definition of 'desert' will not be

100% based on rainfall. Evaporative demand must also be part of the equation, and locations become deserts when moisture demand significantly exceeds moisture supply.

The whole <10" of rainfall thing is a coarse rule of thumb, but it leads to the unhelpful grouping of polar climates and desert climates in the same family...

[XemaSab]

85. I'm with you

It's a more fluid definition than rainfall alone can provide.

That being said, I think it should also be taken into account that in some years Orange County gets 6 inches, and in some years it gets 20 inches.

Though the MAP may be 13 inches, it will require year-round irrigation for a lawn to grow.

[Withywindle]

100. I think it doesn't even matter whether it TECHNICALLY qualifies as a desert or not

The question that's relevant here is, does it get enough rainfall to support a lush green lawn of grass without a lot of water imported from other places?

And if it doesn't, then why do it, unless it's just a matter of impressing the neighbors? Why not landscape your yard in a way that's more compatible with the ecology of the area you're in?

And if you own your own yard (or rent and your landlord is fine with it) then who gives a fuck what the neighbors want?

[petronius]

106. Well, the whole point of this entertaining slap fight was about the technical definition,

but in the big picture I agree - in a non-scientifically-accurate way, the comment "Dude! It's a flippin' desert!" is perfectly acceptable when discussing southern California lawns, car-washing habits, toilets, or anything else.

As a climatologist, I think the distinctions between desert, semiarid, and Mediterranean climates are important and useful, but the question of whether a lawn is the appropriate form of landscaping is a valid question for any of those climates (the first two especially)...

[laughingliberal]

97. Good, then they can quit diverting water from the north. nt

[wordpix]

107. moronic city officials - what's wrong with native desert plants to save water?

:crazy: geesh - and they look good, too.

[sasquatch]

113. Well it isn't normal European like grass that white people have

:crazy:

[louis-t]

Hmmm, in AZ people use rocks as their lawns.

Save us from city codes. Don't mean to get all libertarian on people, but jeez, c'mon.

[John N Morgan]

5. Beat me to it ... I had one. They are great.

[louis-t]

8. My uncle in AZ says he just goes out once in awhile and

"rakes the rocks", turns them over.

[Confusious]

29. That's what we do

I have some grass outside my apt, but the trees are HUGE, so it gets a lot of shade and little water evap.

[YOY]

2. How rediculous.

If the area cannot naturally support grass with normal rainfall then it should not have grass.

[MineralMan]

6. Few places in Southern California can support a lawn

without constant watering for about 9 months out of the year. And its "rIdiculous." Every time.

[YOY]

105. I hate that word...always mispell it.

n.t.

[handmade34]

3. sounds like time to reassess city ordinances

[MineralMan]

4. Some may be interested in the thread already posted

earlier today, which has numerous replies.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7827014

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. oops. Thanks. Didn't see it.

[earth mom]

10. The city should be commending the couple for trying to save water!

What idiots! :freak:

[AnOhioan]

12. The city code is pure foolishness....

This family is a living example of the old saying "No good deed goes unpunished".

[KittyWampus]

18. No, it isn't. "Live Groundcover" can be many, many things besides a grass lawn.

[intheflow]

21. And they've planted things other than grass.

The city still doesn't like it.

[KittyWampus]

23. I see mostly wood chips with a couple of tiny plants towards the front. I've done this for a living

Not xeriscaping but I do know what works by the beach and on top of Manhattan high rises.

[intheflow]

24. Well, not everyone can afford full-out landscaping.

Many people start with little plants know that in the future they will grow into big plants. If you've been working atop Manhattan high rises and with beach front property, you're probably working in a higher income bracket than these folks who are trying to save money and the environment.

[amborin]

43. native, drought-tolerant plants usually grow fairly slowly

it's the non-native, water-guzzlers that grow really quickly

[KittyWampus]

104. appreciate the input. THANKS!

[Abq_Sarah]

67. Other pictures show a different story

They actually have quite a few young plants. http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-236002-family-winthers.html?pic=1

In time they will grow and provide quite a bit of cover. It's absurd to make them pay more for mature plants. It's equally absurd to get wound up over not having a lawn. I live near quite a few very expensive homes and know of only one that has a lawn. It's a criminal waste of water in an area that only gets 12" of rain per year. When you live in a desert, or semi-arid region, a nice green lawn is/or should be at the bottom of your list of priorities.

[KittyWampus]

103. THANKS! that was a great addition to the story.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

22. Its the law that needs to be changed...the apparatchiks are just doing what they do best

[anonymous171]

15. Way better for the environment and the soil. nt

[KittyWampus]

17. Sorry, that doesn't look much like landscaping. It looks like wood chips with a very few tiny plants

towards the front.

Does it have to be grass? No.

I landscaped and gardened for people as a professional. One of my "things" was convincing people to get rid of lawn areas and put in groundcover beds with bulbs coming up in various seasons.

One of my favorite plants that can be used in sandy areas by beach for ground cover is Prickly Pear Cactus. For instance. Beautiful flowers and sweet fruit. Easy care. Spreads quickly.

Lawns are stupid.

This couples front yard looks like crap and I'd hate to live next door.

[Truth2Tell]

118. If you'd hate to live next door to someone

because their yard looks like crap, then you've got some mighty messed up personal priorities, IMO.

[4lbs]

19. I have several neighbors here in SoCal that got rid of their grass and replaced their "lawns" with

green colored gravel.

Nobody really cares.

My parent's house's doesn't have a grass lawn per se, but a garden going all the way around it, enclosed by the standard white picket fence.

They discovered that the plants they have in that garden actually used less water monthly as a whole than the lawn did. They cut their watering amount in half.

However, there's no homeowner's association where I live, nor where my parents live. Our houses are "old", each being 50+ years old.

[Politicalboi]

20. So say they used Marijuana for med purposes

Can they cover their yard with it? It is grass after all. :sarcasm:

[jmowreader]

36. Only if you can train it to be a creeping ground cover

[Skittles]

26. I don't think that looks bad

[Lorien]

56. It certainly would look fine from street level

that's a nice fence with some decent plants in front of it. It's not like it's filled in with weeds and auto parts!

[TransitJohn]

28. This is because they are buying less water from the city.

My own municipality, several years ago, put in a water surcharge that kicks in when they levy water usage restrictions which are triggered by drought conditions. This way, they don't lose money by doing the right thing and levying water usage restrictions when faced with drought conditions. It was a very, very contentious changing of the municipal code, let me tell you.

[LisaL]

32. One would think they should be commended on the conservation

of water and made an example for others, instead of being sued.

[Throd]

40. The city has dropped the suit.

[petronius]

42. I like their fence - it would look good with some lush green grass around it

:)

[petronius]

44. I like their fence - it would look good with some lush green grass around it

:)

[JVS]

50. The only question I have is about whether wood chips are a fire hazard?

[bridgit]

51. Well, I mean, how else is the city of Orange going to be able to cite them for not mowing it

[devilgrrl]

66. This makes me miss Sam Kinison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN7ehccspao

[Manifestor_of_Light]

78. I've seen a few in San Antonio.

Although it's not desert.

Seen one with white gravel and a large agave or an aloe vera plant. Looked nice.

[Withywindle]

99. I like their "lawn".

It looks like the So Cal desert, more or less (what I've seen of it; I visited LA for 5 days once so I'm no expert, but that's pretty much what the landscape looked like from the plane). I have a big problem with people who want to have a lawn that is in no way representative of the natural local landscape.

You don't like the look of yards that look like the desert? DON'T LIVE IN THE FUCKING DESERT. The CA desert has a beauty all its own that some people can appreciate....but it was never meant to look like a frakkin' Maryland golf course.

[itsrobert]

101. 5 days and your not an expert, but yet you are

It's not a desert.

[Withywindle]

109. You're right, not technically

But it's still too arid for a grassy lawn.

[leeroysphitz]

102. Lawns should be just about the LAST thing people are forced to squander

their precious natural resources on. With millions of thirsty and hungry people in the world forcing people to pump life giving water into pointless decorative grass is criminal.

[TrogL]

110. They need to talk to my neighbours

Their entire front yard is rocks and ugly statues.

I'm so pissed off at mine I'd like to concrete it over.

[Vinca]

111. If water is scarce, the city code should be changed. How idiotic.

[old mark]

114. We removed all the grass in our back yard, replaced it with brown mulch

plants, shrubs and fruit trees and a fieldstone walkway.
Looks great, no overall watering, no mowing ever. My time is too valuable to mow a lawn.


mark

[yawnmaster]

115. Its actually a Chaparral biome, which can also have low rainfall...

In fact a Chaparral biome normally has between 20 and 100 mm (8 - 40 inches) of rainfall average per year (notice there is overlap with desert rainfall). In a number of years this area (Los Angeles) has rainfall below 10 inches for the year.
13 inches average does not put it very far into this biome, there are many desert characteristics in this area.
The bottom line is that water is not plentiful here unless one pulls it from a river that is draining a watershed or snowpack (which LA is not!) or a man-made river that drains watersheds or snowpacks (canals).

It is ridiculous to mandate non-chaparral or non-desert type gardens.

[pitohui]

116. well it's an ugly job but there should be a better compromise

the wood chips look like shit but i've seen xeriscaped "lawns" that look pretty good, why not spread some nice tumbled white rock and some better looking desert plants?

i like the idea that they're saving water but i can see from the photo that their front lawn does look shitty so i can see where the gripe is coming from

i've seen so much better jobs in, say, arizona, where you can have nice desert landscaping complete with water-saving drip features that quail can come in use, and it really ADDS to the neighborhood and beauties it

i'm sorry to say in that photo, it looks like they're two minutes away from putting a truck up on blocks over the dead grass part of the lawn, it just looks shitty

instead of fining the couple, maybe require them to spend the cost of the fine on a landscaping consult w. a pro xeriscaper to make a better looking yard that preserves water -- that would be a win/win?

[nightgaunt]

117. Ahead & behind the times. Nature will decide it soon

The home owner is ahead while the city is locked in a past that is passed. Maybe withing 10 years they won't have a choice. I hate it that people don't really own their homes. Such ordinances should be fought tooth and nail. It will only happen when homes are commodities to be kept a certain way. A good drought and the N. Califorinians keep their water it will happen faster. Regional water war?