West Seattle – Lorene Edwards Forkner has turned her front yard into a living example of what happens when a homeowner decides turfgrass no longer serves the space. Her short article in the Summer 2026 issue of Wild Ones Magazine details the shift and the reactions it has sparked among readers interested in native landscapes.
Wild Ones Spotlight
Wild Ones, a national nonprofit, maintains 99 chapters and seedlings across 37 states with a focus on native plantings. The organization reached out to Forkner after noticing her Flickr collection of lawnless front yards. Those images were assembled specifically to show workable alternatives in the most visible part of a property, where rules and neighbor expectations often limit options. The piece appears alongside other stories on fire and homeowner association policies. Members can access the full issue through the group’s site. Forkner notes that front-yard changes remain the hardest to attempt, yet they also offer the clearest demonstration of what is possible.
Real Work Behind the Change
Replacing a lawn requires more than removing grass. Forkner emphasizes that the process turns homeowners into active gardeners who face learning curves, physical effort, and occasional missteps. Most new gardens demand greater ongoing attention than the lawns they replace. She cautions against the common hope for zero maintenance. People seeking that outcome, she writes, may be better off keeping a simple turf-and-weed mix or hiring help. The goal instead is an outdoor area filled with varied plants, seating, and room for daily enjoyment rather than routine mowing.
Early Experiments and Adjustments
Forkner’s own path began in Takoma Park, Maryland, where she replaced a back-yard lawn with sedum and clover. The combination proved less successful than hoped, with clover quickly dominating the shorter sedum. She continues to refine plant choices and naming conventions for species that lack widely used common names. The West Seattle front yard now stands as a clearer model. Readers have already contacted her to discuss similar projects nearby, and she plans a follow-up article on the responses for the winter issue. The effort shows how one visible change can encourage others while highlighting the need for practical design guidance from experienced gardeners.
AI Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by a human editor.