WELLS: Certified California naturalist Roger Gray calls lawns here unnatural. ROGER GRAY: That is not the question we should be asking, is how do I keep this thing that does not belong here and for which there are not enough resources? Can they cling to this 1950s ideal of American homeownership? WELLS: Angelinos are facing a decision over the fate of their yards. STEINBERG: There's no question that the perfect lawn, as I've described it, is an ecological boondoggle. But it's no longer sustainable in places like Southern California. The end of World War II brought new housing developments, single family tract homes surrounded by weed-free, bright green lawns. He says judging a man by his lawn is a decades-old tradition. He teaches at Case Western Reserve University. WELLS: Ted Steinberg wrote a book about the history of lawns.
TED STEINBERG: You know, if you weren't with the program and building your turf, well, you know, you weren't actually living up to what it meant to be a man. OSSEN: I grew up saying that you can judge a man by his lawn, so the lawn ain't going. In fact, he's got plans to rip up the concrete driveway and put in more lawn. He is holding tight to this 20th century symbol of wealth and the American dream.
He already pays $175 just to water it every month. And Ossen is prepared to pay extra to keep his lawn alive. Most residents aren't facing more than a fine if they don't comply. OSSEN: If I sit here and I'm running my sprinklers, is someone going to come over and cuff me and take me away? They grow better in the south, so they need lots of water to survive. These plants aren't native to California. He gestures towards azaleas, dahlias and the dogwood tree in the back. His grandfather planted them when he bought the house nearly 50 years ago. WELLS: He's standing in his yard under the shade of fruit trees. MICHAEL OSSEN: I am unapologetically a water user in this yard. Caleigh Wells from member station KCRW reports.ĬALEIGH WELLS, BYLINE: The new rules only let Michael Ossen water his yard twice per week for just a few minutes. It is the third consecutive year of drought. Is California done with lawns? Starting this month, millions of homeowners in the southern part of the state are under mandatory water restrictions.