Let Nature Be Your Guide

Photo from Vecteezy

Ever notice how varied plant growth appears in natural areas? In woodlands, small flowering plants cover the ground, with assorted wildflowers in patches here and there, while vines, shrubs, and bushes fill out the undergrowth surrounding the trees. There’s no real uniformity to it; it’s more or less organized chaos.

However, if you observe closely, the flora is composed of a diverse selection of native plants that coexist, benefiting each other in one way or another. For example, the delicate, tiny, blossoming greenery covering the soil thrives in the shade of its larger neighbors, while the taller plants rely on the ground cover to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and hold the soil in place.

Of course, they all provide food and shelter for pollinators. who, in return, act as nature’s pest control while pollinating and spreading seeds.

We Can Learn a Lot from Nature

Did you know that in the 1500s, well-to-do English landowners took pride in their rainbow-colored lawns of wildflowers, where grass was considered the unwelcome weed?

It wasn't until the 19th century that perceptions changed. The Garden Clubs of America, the US Golf Association, and the US Department of Agriculture launched a campaign to convince Americans they needed to carpet their yards in a sea of green. With the advent of lawnmowers, everyone could have immaculate lawns like the rich and famous.

It worked. Since the idea of impressing our neighbors with manicured lawns became popular, we’ve neglected the concept of working with nature. Even though the consequences of our (in)action are staring us in the face, humans are still too slow to convert from the mindset of landscaping in widely spaced rows of non-native flowers surrounded by tons of red-dyed wood chips.

Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder

I understand that some folks don’t like the idea of organized chaos in their yard. But if you take the time to see the whole picture, you’ll see it as a collection of nature’s finest gifts to humanity. Picture your yard with flowers of different shapes, sizes, colors, and heights planted close together, creating a sea of multicolored blossoms that dance in the breeze. Visualize a host of butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, beetles, and other assorted creatures investigating the treasures hiding within the beautiful rainbow of colors. Looks a lot better than a boring monocrop of grass.

Photo by John Blair

Working with Nature

If you’ve read my earlier articles, you’ll know that my dream of having a pollinator paradise surrounding my home will not become a reality, in this lifetime at least. I live in an apartment now with only a small patio suitable for some potted plants. Also, even though I’ve recovered almost 100% from my stroke, my “get up and go” has “got up and gone.” I just don’t have the stamina for prolonged outside work.

Therefore, from here on out, the focus of my Substack articles will be centered around the concept of working with nature.

Since the Industrial Revolution, too much emphasis has been placed on using our planet to benefit industry and greedy individuals without considering the negative effects on the environment. I want to contribute to changing that way of thinking!

Instead of trying to dominate nature, I want humanity to adopt a philosophy
that integrates conservation goals, creating mutually beneficial outcomes for all living things, including plants, trees, people, and all the creatures that inhabit Planet Earth.

Too Much to Ask For?

Perhaps it isn’t. Change often begins with simple acts of observation and small gestures of care. Imagine, if each of us made a conscious choice to plant just a few native species or to let a patch of wildness thrive, how quickly our landscapes and collective consciousness might shift. Over time, these tiny sanctuaries could stitch together corridors for pollinators and songbirds, knitting urban and rural spaces into a tapestry of life.

Beyond the tangible benefits for the earth, there’s a quiet joy in embracing nature’s subtle choreography—the way dew glistens on a spider’s web at dawn, or the gentle hum of life returning to a once-silent corner of the yard. In working with, rather than against these rhythms, we rediscover our place within the larger story of the planet.

So, perhaps the next time you pass by a patch of so-called weeds or a riot of wildflowers, you’ll not see disorder but instead the intricate artistry of nature’s design—a reminder that resilience and brilliance arise where diversity is celebrated. All it takes is a willingness to look, to learn, and to let go of control, trusting that the wisdom of the natural world is, and always has been, our greatest teacher.

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