Fireflies reportedly like moist soil, and they don't care for suburban lawns.
The Boston Museum of Science has been running a nationwide Firefly Watch since 2008. I first read about it a couple of years ago. Tonight, I'm more tempted than ever to sign up, but the last thing I need is another ongoing commitment to flake on. Maybe after I manage to write more than one letter of comment in a year, and paint the stairwell that
In the meantime, their virtual habitat shows various blink patterns and colors of Massachusetts fireflies. It's not as relaxing as the real thing, but it's pretty neat nonetheless.
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Seriously, is there a "Lose the Lawn" movement out east? In the west, the concept of a lawn is so inappropriate to our climate that many variations on 'Lose the Lawn" are gaining great traction. Is there any justification, other than convention, for you to maintain a vast, green lawn? No kids, no dogs, no peasants to impress. Why not become a wildlife habitat instead?
Because, fireflies!!!
Meadow all the way up to the house looks abandoned. If I mow the flat parts somewhat more regularly, and perhaps put some more deliberate plantings into the meadow area to complement the pretty stuff already popping up, I might be able to pull it off. It would probably also help if I paid more attention to the area at the top of the driveway, focusing there to cut back weed trees and put in more shrubs and ornamentals.
We have started planning the redoing of our front lawn and drive way. A good portion (maybe as much as a 3rd) will be turned into shrubbery.