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written by: Maggie Schaefer When you drive through the suburbs, you often see nothing more than barren, empty lawns. These yards are voids for senses, both for us and for other life. Nancy Lawson’s yard is the exact opposite. With an explosion of signals between the native plants she has cultivated and the animals they have brought, she observes every day just how important a conservation garden can be. Lawson, a certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, master naturalist, and University of Maryland journalism alumna, recently presented her talk “A World of Discovery: Blending Science and Heart in the Sensory Wildscape.” Starting with journalism work for an animal protection organization, she felt most drawn to stories on urban wildlife. Now, she pursues that passion for wildlife writing as a full-time career, giving talks, writing books, and compiling her writings and photographs at The Humane Gardener.  Photo by Nancy Lawson of a deer among her mountain mint from The Humane Gardener. Nancy Lawson led her audience through the senses of both us and wildlife. She emphasized that while ‘landscape’ implies only the visual, like the monotonous turf grass lawns that are so common, a ‘wildscape’ surrounds us in a rich sensory experience. As she delved into each sense that makes up the wildscape, she wove in scientific research of how plants and animals communicate, and directed attention to how the man-made environment can drown out the cues and communication of other life. A signal in a garden can be more than just birds singing to others of their species. It can often become complicated, such as an insect herbivore feeding on a plant, causing it to release airborne signals that attract that herbivores’ predator. Just as these communications can be indirect, maintaining an ecosystem can be indirect. Deer can be discouraged from eating flowers by nestling them among plants that are distasteful to deer. The more we understand how plants and animals communicate, the easier it is to tap into these communications to support a healthy ecosystem. By pointing out these signals we often miss, Lawson imparted the benefits of shifting our perspective and seeing the world as other creatures do. What we see as messy or dirty can be the nest or home of others. Until we look at the natural world for the resources it provides to other life -- rather than its burden upon us -- we will fail to notice the world around us. Before she sits down to write, Lawson first collects massive amounts of research and knowledge. Lawson showed an enthusiastic curiosity about scientific research when asking about the ongoing projects in the entomology department. She works to bridge scientific research and the average person in both directions - bringing observations from friends and fellow gardeners, asking questions and gaining comprehensive knowledge, and taking it back to the public through her writing. This is jump-started by her own observations as well, such as watching monarch butterflies scratch at dead plant stalks. Writing is more than research. Every word is a choice to best convey our story. When talking to the public, Lawson watches her language when talking about harmful non-natives. She avoids making moral arguments, or simple dichotomies like “good” vs “bad.” Ultimately, all forms we berate for being invasive, even our spotted lanternfly, are simply going about their existence. Often, these species are less harmful than expected, and can be controlled in simple ways (like removing their host, the tree of heaven). Anthropomorphizing, either to defend or depose other species, can be a dangerous game. Yet, ascribing human characteristics can get people to care about maligned organisms, such as the ground nesting bees searching for their homes blocked by mulching. That balance is one Lawson has to consider with her diverse audience.  Photo by Nancy Lawson of a previous wasp nest she had, from The Humane Gardener. But what about the ‘dangerous’ creatures? They have value too, but people are even more resistant to a wasp nest on their property than a mouse nest. Lawson advised us to “break down the scary.” Focusing on real, lived situations can help as well. When Lawson found a wasp nest on her property, she left it alone and they left her alone. Facts and science often show that creatures are less dangerous (and thus, less exciting and sensational) than people think. Additionally, their predators and competitors can keep populations in check. It helps to connect it back to the ecosystem it’s a part of, joining the uncharismatic animals to the charismatic. The caterpillar eating your plants will become the butterfly you love watching, and the larva wriggling in the dirt is feeding the birds tweeting in the branches.
How does one go about turning a barren lawn into a wildlife sanctuary? Nancy Lawson didn’t transform her yard instantly. She started with replacing her flowerbeds with native flowers grown from seed, since she loved the color of orange butterfly weed. Soon, she saw monarch caterpillars and bumblebees appear and realized that this small switch already made a difference. From there, she worked patch by patch in her yard, making small improvements. The undesirable plants were gradually beaten back when she planted vigorous natives, nurtured the ones that appeared on their own, and attuned her process to her specific land. By focusing on the steps forward, and the new plants coming up from dormant seeds, the long process of habitat restoration becomes achievable. Nancy Lawson had shown how important it is to create spaces for urban wildlife in the anthropocene. While it can often seem like an overwhelming uphill battle, it does have results! Changing just one yard created a home to a wide variety of plants and animals, allowing Lawson to spend her days watching mud daubers build their nests and bunnies hop over her feet. Much like how her work on her yard brings wildlife back, her work educating and working with her community helped pass a state law that allows conservation landscaping on your property. Step by step, change can occur no matter the landscape. Comments are closed.
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