By now you know I voraciously read gardening articles in newspapers, magazines, and internet. When I read something great I try to share it and, by the same token, when I see something squirrely I try to share that as well. Well, this falls into the squirrely category.

A gardening writer was touting the use of chemicals on her lawn. Yes, let me repeat this - a supposed gardening quasi-expert was advocating using chemicals on the lawn. She talked about chinch bugs and their detrimental effect on grass, then spoke to fungus among us due to all the rains. Apparently the St. Augustine grass was getting beat up while the Bahiagrass can take the abuse. Rather than rip up the St. Augustine grass or entertain in-filling with native plants, she would rather have chemicals applied. There was even a comment about how frustrating it must be for the poor landscaper as he tried to artificially grow and "protect" her grass.

Well, I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder but here's my two cents worth. Those chemicals are washed into the water supply by the rains we are having right now. That affects wildlife. Studies have shown that these additives can contribute to cancer in people and pets. Did you also ever notice that wherever chemicals are applied, butterflies and birds generally are not? Life is too precious and grass doesn't mean a thing. Put in native groundcovers or at a minimum something that needs little care. If you want turf, get the fake kind. It stays green, unbugged (is that a word?), weedless and requires no pesticides. Plus you can probably have your own little golf course. Oh, and about those chinch bugs. Apparently they formed a band and are now happily living in Minnesota. Happy Florida Gardening.