A designed meadow can be exquisitely layered with plants, just as nature is, and as horticulturally sophisticated as any fussy perennial border. Grass is the glue that holds it all together. Photo by: Saxon Holt.

Lawn. Do you really need one? Grasses guru John Greenlee answers with a resounding no! "There is no doubt that lawn culture is not good for the planet," says John Greenlee, whose mission is to change how America gardens. "I really, desperately want to help America start making meadows instead of lawns." The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn (Timber Press) teaches you how. Says John, "There are no limits. You can do this anywhere."

John has done the legwork of finding nursery sources in 24 states that are growing the plants mentioned in the book. Terms of business are indicated, along with whether the nursery offers mail order. Many of these nurseries have catalogs available either online or as hard copy. No endorsement of businesses included in this section is intended, nor is any criticism implied of any source not mentioned. Read on for nursery sources near you and a list of organizations dedicated to preservation and restoration of natural habitats.

ARIZONA

Southwestern Native Seeds P.O. Box 50503, Tucson, AZ 85703; southwesternnativeseeds.com; retail, mail order

Wild Seed P.O. Box 27751, Tempe, AZ 85285; 602-276-3536; retail, no mail order

This backyard in Santa Monica, California, may be small, but it can still contain a beautiful meadow. The lawn consists of California dune sedge (Carex pansa); accent grasses include muhlys (Muhlenbergia) and sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum). Photo by: Saxon Holt.

CALIFORNIA

Annie's Annuals 740 Market Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801; anniesannuals.com; 888-266-4370; wholesale and retail, mail order

Berkeley Horticultural Nursery 1310 McGee Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703; 510-526-4704; berkeleyhort.com; retail, no mail order

Digging Dog Nursery P.O. Box 471, Albion, CA 95410; 707-937-1130; diggingdog.com; retail, mail order

Elkhorn Native Plant Nursery 1957B Highway 1, Moss Landing, CA 95039; elkhornnursery.com; 831-763-1270; wholesale and retail, no mail order

El Nativo Growers 200 S Peckham Road, Azusa, CA 91702; 626-969-8449; elnativogrowers.com; wholesale and retail, no mail order

Emerisa Gardens 555 Irwin Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95401-5657; 707-525-9644; emerisa.com; wholesale and retail, no mail order

Greenlee Nursery P.O. Box 885, Chino, CA 91708; 909-342-6201; greenleenursery.com; wholesale and retail, mail order

Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) form the base grasses in this meadow; accents and background grasses grow up through them. Photo by: Saxon Holt.

Hedgerow Farms 21905 County Road 88, Winters, CA 95694; 530-662-8647; hedgerowfarms.com; wholesale and retail, no mail order

Larner Seeds P.O. Box 407, Bolinas, CA 94924; 415-868-9407; larnerseeds.com; wholesale and retail, no mail order

Mostly Native Nursery P.O. Box 258, 27235 Highway 1, Tomales, CA 94971; 707-878-2009; mostlynatives.com; retail, no mail order

Theodore Payne Foundation 10459 Tuxford Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352-2126; 818-768-1802; theodorepayne.org; retail, mail order

COLORADO

Western Native Seed P.O. Box 188, Coaldale, CO 81222; 719-942-3935; westernnativeseed.com; retail, mail order

Low flowering bulbs and perennials evoke a mountain meadow in this hot Napa Valley courtyard. The garden is more heat and drought tolerant than it might seem. Photo by: Saxon Holt.

CONNECTICUT

Twombly Nursery 163 Barn Hill Road, Monroe, CT 06468; 203-261-2133; twomblynursery.com; retail, mail order

FLORIDA

The Natives 2929 JB Carter Road, Davenport, FL 33837; 863-422-6664; thenatives.net; retail, no mail order

GEORGIA

Nearly Native Nursery 776 McBride Road, Fayetteville, GA 30215; 770-460-6284; nearlynativenursery.com

ILLINOIS

AAA Ornamentals 8S953 Jericho Road P.O. Box 277, Big Rock, IL 60511; 630-556-4507; retail, mail order

The Matus-Sheehan garden, Padadena California: This garden is perfect for strolling with drink in hand. You'd never know that it's in the heart of the city. Photo by: Saxon Holt.

INDIANA

Country What Not Gardens 7129 E. 500 N., Rochester, IN 46975; 574-353-7915; countrywhatnotgardens.com; retail, mail order

KENTUCKY

Jelitto Perennial Seeds 125 Chenoweth Lane #301, Louisville, KY 40207; jelitto.com; 502-895-0807; wholesale and retail, mail order

Gauras, lavenders, salvias, and verbenas lead the way in this drought tolerant meadow at a private residence in Santa Cruz, California. Have fun with color — make changes as you see fit. Photo by: Saxon Holt.

MARYLAND

Earthly Pursuits 2901 Kuntz Road, Windsor Mill, MD 21244; 410-496-2523; earthlypursuits.net; retail outlet for Kurt Bluemel, Inc., mail order

MASSACHUSETTS

Northeast Nursery Garden Center 234 Newbury Street, Peabody, MA 01960; 978-535-6550; wholesale and retail, no mail order

MICHIGAN

Amber Wave Gardens 1460 Hillandale Road, Benton Harbor, MI 49022; amberwavegardens.com; retail, no mail order 

The Native Plant Nursery P.O. Box 7841, Ann Arbor, MI 48107; 734-677-3260; nativeplant.com; wholesale and retail, no mail order

Wildtype Design 900 N Every Road, Mason, MI 48854; 517-244-1142; wildtypeplants.com; retail, no mail order

The grasses here blend the plants together almost invisibly. Photo by: Saxon Holt.

MINNESOTA

Prairie Moon Nursery 32115 Prairie Lane, Winona, MN 55987; 507-452-1362; prairiemoon.com; retail

NEBRASKA

Nature Hills Nursery, Inc. 3334 North 88th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68134; 402-934-8116; naturehills.com; wholesale and retail, no mail order

Stock Seed Farms 28008 Mill Road, Murdock, NE 68407; stockseed.com; 800-759-1520; retail, mail order

NEVADA

Comstock Seed 917 Highway 88, Gardnerville, NV 89460; comstockseed.com; wholesale and retail, no mail order

NEW JERSEY

Triple Oaks Nursery P.O. Box 385 2359 Delsea Drive, Franklinville, NJ 08322; 856-694-4272; tripleoaks.com; retail, no mail order

Wild Earth Native Plant Nursery P.O. Box 7258, Freehold, NJ 07728; 732-308-9777; retail, no mail order

NEW MEXICO

Bernado Beach Native Plant Farm Star Route 7, Box 145, Veguita, NM 87062; 505-345-6248; wholesale and retail, no mail order

Curtis and Curtis Star Route, Box 8A 4500 N Prince, Clovis, NM 88101; 505-762-4759; curtisseed.com; wholesale and retail, no mail order

High Country Gardens 2902 Rufina Street, Santa Fe, NM 87507-2929; highcountrygardens.com; 800-925-9387; retail, mail order

Plants of the Southwest 3095 Agua Fria Street, Santa Fe, NM 87507; 800-788-7333; plantsofthesouthwest.com; retail, mail order

Berkeley sedge (Carex divulsa) in flower with blue oatgrass (Helictotrichan sempervirens). Dark green can really make silver and blue pop. Berkeley sedge is a dependable dark green in either sun or shade. Photo by: Saxon Holt.

NORTH CAROLINA

Plant Delights Nursery 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh, NC 27603; 919-772-4794; plantdelights.com; retail, mail order

OHIO

Glasshouse Works P.O. Box 97 Church Street, Stewart, OH 45778-0097; 740-662-2142; glasshouseworks.com; retail, mail order

OREGON

Daryll's Nursery 15770 W Ellendale Road, Dallas, OR 97338; 503-623-0251; daryllsnursery.com; retail, no mail order

PENNSYLVANIA

Ernst Conservation Seeds 9006 Mercer Pike, Meadville, PA 16335; 800-873-3321 or 814-336-2404; ernstseed.com; retail, mail order

TEXAS

Bluestem Nursery 4101 Curry Road, Arlington, TX 76001; 800-356-9164; bluestemnursery.com; wholesale and retail, no mail order

Wildseed Farms 100 Legacy Drive P.O. Box 3000, Fredericksburg, TX 78624; 800-848-0078; wildseedfarms.com; retail, mail order

Yucca Do Nursery P.O. Box 907, Hempstead, TX 77445; yuccado.com; 979-826-4580; retail, no mail order

UTAH

Granite Seed 1697 W 2100 North, Lehi, UT 84043; graniteseed.com; 801-768-4422; wholesale and retail, no mail order

A meadow of Mediterranean false brome (Brachypodium retusum), Atlas fescue (Festuca mairei), and slender veldt grass (Pennisetum spathiolatum) forms the basis of a green roof in a fire-prone part of California. This green roof meadow needs comparatively little supplemental water to stay nonflammable. Photo by: Saxon Holt.

WISCONSIN

Milaeger's Gardens 4838 Douglas Avenue, Racine, WI 53402-2498; 800-669-1229; retail, no mail order

Prairie Nursery P.O. Box 306, Westfield, WI 53964; 800-476-9453; prairienursery.com; retail, mail order

Prairie Seed Source P.O. Box 83, North Lake, WI 53064-0083; prairiebob.com; retail, mail order

ORGANIZATIONS

California Native Grasslands Association P.O. Box 72405 Davis, CA 95617; 530-759-8458

The mission of the CNGA is to promote, preserve, and restore the diversity of California's native grasses and grassland ecosystems through education, advocacy, research, and stewardship.

California Native Plant Society 2707 K Street #1 Sacramento, CA 95816-5113; 916-447-2677

The CNPS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of California's native plants and the conservation of them and their natural habitats through education, science, advocacy, horticulture, and land stewardship.

California Society for Ecological Restoration 2701 20th Street Bakersfield, CA 93301-3334; 661-634-9228

SERCAL is a nonprofit membership-based organization dedicated to the purpose of bringing about the recovery of damaged California ecosystems. To this end, the organization's activities are focused on the presentation of conferences, symposia, workshops, field trips, and other educational activities dealing with the many different aspects involved in restoration of California native habitats.

California Weed Science Society P.O. Box 3073 Salinas, CA 93912-3073; 831-442-0883

The CWSS provides information exchange on weed science and technology through an annual conference, publications, and other activities; advises stakeholders on matters pertaining to weeds; facilitates cooperation among individuals, agencies, and organizations; encourages careers in weed science; and promotes professional growth and interaction for its members in California.

The Ecological Conservation Organization 120 S. Cross Street Little Rock, AR 72201; 501-372-7895

ECO is an Arkansas-based and -operated environmental nonprofit organization, whose mission is simple: "Restore natural ecosystems through research, restoration, and advocacy."

Native Habitats 17287 Skyline Blvd. #102 Woodside, CA 94062-3780

Mission statement: "We participate in and support efforts to restore and preserve native ecosystems (urban, suburban, and wild) . . . for the sake of restoring ecological process and biodiversity . . . allowing native species, both flora and fauna, to survive and thrive."

Society for Ecological Restoration International 285 W. 18th Street #1 Tucson, AZ 85701; 520-622-5485

The Global Restoration Network (GRN), a project of the society, offers the field of ecological restoration a new database and web-based portal to trustworthy and hard-to-find information on all aspects of restoration, from historic ecosystems and recent causes of degradation to in-depth case studies and proven restoration techniques. The overriding mission of the GRN is to link restoration projects, research, and practitioners in order to foster the creative exchange of experience, vision, and expertise.

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