Anyone who read this blog post on turfgrass lawns probably understands the arguments against turfgrass lawns. So now what? Do we all need to tear out or grassy swathes and put in wildflowers? Not necessarily - there are TONS of turfgrass lawn alternatives, and so much documentation that it would be insanity to try to catalog everything without actually considering a career in publishing....go ahead, google it.But this morning I was thinking about a mid-way point between eliminating an existing turfgrass lawn in favor of other groundcovers, perennials, or the extreme artificial lawns that seem to be gaining in popularity at the moment (due to extensive television advertising?).I came upon the mixed lawn as a compromise / move in the right direction. When I was little, the local library had tons of tiny daisies in the lawn which I thought were completely charming. At our home, there was clover in the front lawn that I would sit in, pluck at the flowers, and hang out with the cat or bunny. Even if you don't go to the expense and trouble of removing an existing lawn regardless of its condition, simply overseeding with white clover can start a remarkable transformation. Adding clover to your turfgrass lawn can begins the transformation of adding little flowers, benefits from nitrogen fixing, and gaining a more textured, greener appearance. What can be a better solution in having a lawn than having one that eliminating the need and expense of chemical fertilizers, needs less mowing, uses less water, and it is prettier and greener as well?! Sign me up.Oh! and by the way - an added benefit of intentionally mixing other plants in with your turfgrass is supporting bees in your area (they like clover very much) - and please don't get me started on the crisis facing the bees in California!It seems that Oregonians are embracing mixed lawns already, something I have yet to notice much here in California. Hobbs and Hopkins in Oregon offers some clever seed mixes for more interesting and environmentally friendly lawns. They include all sorts of things from clover to lawn daisies and dwarf yarrow. Isn't that so much more fun than plain ole turfgrass?! Am I the only one who loves this!? Their photos look like exotic salads - not dull, flat green carpets.As soon as it is released, I will have a copy of The American Meadow, a book that John Greenlee has been promising for a couple of years now. It isn't quite the same concept as mixed lawns, but maybe he will cover that in the book? We'll see when my copy arrives....oh, I am so excited!