What is so sustainable about our typical American backyard? From where do our tastes for our home landscapes stem? Why on earth do we love the carefully manicured lawn so much? And why do our hedges have to look like an over-groomed pet poodle? Are we sadly misguided with our models for home sweet home? Consider this image from the New York Times by Matt Collins from June 1st. It epitomizes our love affair with our home gardens. We really need to revisit this relationship. We need to re-educate ourselves about native species to start. In the next semester I am going to have my students think further on this issue.