Bring back the bluegrass

Click to expand the sections below to learn more about natural areas and naturalization.

Natural areas aren’t just beneficial for wildlife, they’re also beneficial for people near them. These areas improve water quality, reduce runoff and lower the carbon footprint.

To maintain our natural areas, we focus efforts on improving ecosystems and habitats while protecting the geological and historic features using good land stewardship. Within our natural areas, we mow less often. This encourages the naturalization of the land. Mowing less allows plants like buffalo grass and Kentucky bluegrass to return and thrive.

Community is essential to us. Before drafting our 2018 Master Plan, we sent out questionnaires, distributed handouts, hosted online surveys and met with residents to determine what the community wants in its parks. With this research, we identified several opportunities for improvement. One that stood out was the opportunity to “naturalize” more park spaces.

“Naturalization” is the process of allowing some park spaces to return to their natural states. During this process, residents will notice changes in the way the land is maintained. Native species like the field daisy will be allowed to thrive, while invasive species like bush honeysuckle will be fought back. We will optimize our parks by filling them with unique types of beauty and landscape.

Our 2018 Master Plan encompasses the future of Lexington Parks & Recreation. The plan is based on many community research efforts. With this research, we learned that 83% of Lexington households support the idea of using land to preserve open space, natural and historic areas. Two top priorities were identified as “walking and hiking trails” and “nature parks.”

To meet these requests, we have developed a plan for parkland development. Land will be balanced to accommodate active recreation and passive recreation sites that may include naturalized areas. We will restore parkland into natural areas by reducing mowing, fostering tree canopies and maintaining native species.

The process of naturalization is a lot more than no longer mowing. Things to keep in mind when deciding if naturalization is right for an area may include: 

• What is your goal for naturalizing the specific area? Common goals include wanting to attract a specific type of plant growth or wildlife. 
• Soil type
• Aspect (north, south, east or west) 
• Enviro-type (dry, wet, or a combination) 
• Sun exposure (sunny, partial shade, full shade) 

Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur. These important plant species provide nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds and other animals. Unlike natives, common horticultural plants do not provide energetic rewards for their visitors and often require insect pest control to survive.

• Native plants are also advantageous, because:
   
• Native plants do not require fertilizers and require fewer pesticides than lawns.
   
• Native plants require less water than lawns and help prevent erosion.
   
• The deep root systems of many native Midwestern plants increase the soil's capacity to store water. Native plants can significantly reduce water runoff and, consequently, flooding.
   
• Native plants help reduce air pollution.
   
• Native plantscapes do not require mowing. Excessive carbon from the burning of fossil fuels contributes to global warming.
   
• Native plants sequester, or remove, carbon from the air.
   
• Native plants provide shelter and food for wildlife.
   
• Native plants promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.
   
• Native plants are beautiful and increase scenic values!

The naturalization process takes time. As it occurs, the landscape will take many forms. Meadows will grow, wildflowers will flourish, butterfly gardens will form and trees will sprout. Even in the winter, native species spread their seed to prepare for the spring. Because the naturalization process takes time, we ask that you bear with us. While the results will be beautiful and beneficial, the process requires the growth of plants that some would consider “weeds.”

Native plants may be confused as weeds but there is more than meets the eye. "Weeds" are critical plants in the naturalization process. For example, foxtail and joe-pye weed are great food for the bobwhite quail and mourning dove. Milkweed is a butterfly favorite. The naturalization process requires letting beneficial weeds grow and curbing harmful ones with “pattern mowing.”

Pattern mowing is a better alternative than traditional blanket mowing for ecosystems. Mowing periodically fosters the growth of desirable plants. Taller grasses will grow and offer shelter for wildlife.

Various wildlife and plant life thrive in naturalized areas! 

Local examples include: 

• Bees
   
• Bobolinks
   
• Dickcissel
   
• Henslow's sparrow
   
• Monarch butterflies
   
• Eastern cottontail rabbit
   
• Cardinal flower
   
• Common boneset
   
• Joe-Pye weed
   
• Milkweed
   
• Yarrow
   
• St. John's wort 

We want you to enjoy many types of natural areas, from your mown lawn to our forested natural areas. Parks & Recreation staff is working hard to ensure the naturalization process in our parks is efficient and effective. Designating and establishing naturalized areas will take time and patience. We thank you for sticking with us!

If you would like to assist in our effort to keep Lexington natural, volunteer! Contact Steven Rogers at srogers@lexingtonky.gov

Share your knowledge! 

Download an education brochure about naturalization in Lexington 

Enjoy the following resources as ways to learn more about naturalization: 

• Gardening with native wildflowers
   
• Basic instructions for native Plant landscaping projects
   
• Must we mow? How to increase wildlife value of working landscapes
   
• Native, invasive, and other plant-related definitions