Most people try to get rid of the moss in their lawn. I try to encourage the moss and get rid of the grass. There is no mowing to do that way!
Although the other side of the house, which faces the bay, is quite open and traditionally landscaped with a grass lawn, I thought you might be interested in the natural approach I took to the side away from the water. I started this project more than ten years ago, when most of the area you see here was just a weed patch where former owners had had a vegetable garden. I planted all the trees to the left of center in the photo from volunteers in the yard, creating a pleasant "forest" for privacy from the road, which runs about 30 feet from the edge of what you see in the photo.
The only hybrids you see here are the two rhododendrons at left and the azaleas at right. (Maybe I should add another photo in a month or so when these are blooming. It is quite a sight!) All the other plants are native here: Sitka Spruce and Hemlock trees, sword ferns, red huckleberry, black huckleberry, salal, coast wild strawberry, and of course, the moss and lichen.
As you can see, it isn't only humans who enjoy the privacy from the cars that drive by here. We've had all manners of wildlife in our yard - including bear.
Although the other side of the house, which faces the bay, is quite open and traditionally landscaped with a grass lawn, I thought you might be interested in the natural approach I took to the side away from the water. I started this project more than ten years ago, when most of the area you see here was just a weed patch where former owners had had a vegetable garden. I planted all the trees to the left of center in the photo from volunteers in the yard, creating a pleasant "forest" for privacy from the road, which runs about 30 feet from the edge of what you see in the photo.
The only hybrids you see here are the two rhododendrons at left and the azaleas at right. (Maybe I should add another photo in a month or so when these are blooming. It is quite a sight!) All the other plants are native here: Sitka Spruce and Hemlock trees, sword ferns, red huckleberry, black huckleberry, salal, coast wild strawberry, and of course, the moss and lichen.
As you can see, it isn't only humans who enjoy the privacy from the cars that drive by here. We've had all manners of wildlife in our yard - including bear.