Wow! Glad you found a place to vent! In our area the "Nazis" are the native plant people who are trying to convince people to use more natives. I am not a purist although I have stopped planting anything that is on the invasive list for our area and am slowly trying to take out the invasives that are on my property. I have a "field," not a lawn. It is full of wild strawberries, violets, carexes, and yes, some lioripe,too. When it is mowed in the summer, it is lovely and green. We have a very small token lawn for the dogs. It is zoysia, not fescue, and requires no chemicals and little maintenence. Of course, it is brown in the winter but very dense, hence the perfect "bed" for our neighbor's dog.

I was told one time that, until MacDonalds uses native plants around its buildings, the average person would not be interested in using natives. I have seen some use of natives in front of many new developments and some business establishments. Therefore, I am much encouraged.

I try to get people hooked on to natives by showing them how beautiful and garden worthy many of them are. I think they will see and perhaps be interested in promoting saving lots more, even those ugly ducklings that are not garden worthy but are part of the overall ecological picture.

You need to find some like-minded people in your area to discuss all of this. Joining the NC Native Plant Society has introduced me to lots of folks, ranging from the purists to people like me who find it easier to encourage and suggest. I agree with you in principal but find that ranting just elevates the blood pressure.

I joined the local Master Gardener program when I retired eight years ago but have been disappointed with their concept of environmental care. They are great people but not really focused on natives nor the larger picture of caring for the environment. The past two years of drought have really been a blessing because recently they have been talking about drought resistant plants, many of which are natives.

Another wow! Now you have me waxing philosophical. Fight the good fight, but calm down. Remember the flies/honey bit and take deep breaths.

personally I think its more of a crime to plant an all native garden/spend hundreds of dollars on it, then move and have it all get removed by stupid people who don't give a crap then it is for devlopers to clear cut/drain our wild urban swamps and woodlands, at least they are doing their job to survive, the stupid homeowner out of sheer ignorance. If your going to go native, either complain to the city/county you live in and have it be made into law that once you regsier your planting as native, it becomes DNR/state/county property and is unuseable to homeowners other then the person who started the garden-you. OR before/ maybe a growing season before you move dig up the plants and put them into land thats a restoration project or nature park/state property- it may be illegal but if it saves flora that would otherwise by killed, flora "you" spent lots of money on, then its fine IMHO.

Most "native plantings" degrade with invasives after a year or so anyway though if they are not kept up.

To address the concern of handed down gardens, I think it's very possible to build a native garden at a very low cost. I get structural components on freecycle, sow seeds, and take cuttings. Prices for potted plants also vary widely. Devices that are not frequently needed, like a chipper, can be inexpensively rented for a day to deal with yard refuse and save money of mulching materials. After storms tons of folks set out logs from felled trees. These logs can be used to mark boundaries, chisled and hatched to hold a bird bath, or to make a bird house from. I've even made a wren house from excess PVC materials. The money saved from these types of projects can then be donated to organizations that perserve large tracks of land. Some subdivisions also require a covenant be signed to keep X% in native plants. Although these are not yet common, there was a time when lawns were not common either. One I am aware of is in Madison, wi.

Even short stays and rentals can be advantaged to wildlife. One season of a stay is all it takes to throw up a hedge of annual sunflowers (H. annus, I think is the species).
This could be setup for next to nothing in cost. Containers can also be used for those who tend to move frequently.

I was told one time that, until MacDonalds uses native plants around its buildings, the average person would not be interested in using natives.

We have a Burger King that has a beautiful grouping of Fothergilla out front (really big). It was nice to see that for a change.

I agree with the OP - why is lawn "right" and non-lawn is wrong?

I agree also. Sometimes when you do restoration work midwestnerr you MUST use big plants to have a shot at a pure stand of natives unless you do some heavy chemical appication. This costs a lot of money either/or.

Personally I think we here on the forums should ALL write to our mayors or law makers/local DNR'S - and tell them if you have a native planting,you regster with the zone/county and it gets protected. I know I'm going to write to my DNR.