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Weed Laws Article on Landscaping (John Marshall Law Review) Page 11 of 27 landscape. Thanks to her efforts, St. John's is now considering re- writing its weed ordinance to expressly allow natural landscaping. 8. The "Chicago 5" In America's heartland the battle is being waged to convince the nation's third largest city to permit residents to naturally landscape" something the State of Illinois, Cook County, the Park District and the city itself all actively practice on public lands.91 The Chicago 5 are a varied lot. Jack Schmidling grows a natural landscape consisting of a 110 varieties of Illinois prairie, woodland and wetland plants and wildflowers.92 His yard attracts 64 species of birds. Mike Regenfuss cultivates a natural landscape as an important part of the North Branch Prairie Restoration Project, a joint project of the Cook County Forest Preserve District and The Nature Conservancy, a national conservation organization.93 Since 1949, Larry Clark's family has cultivated a natural landscape consisting of a savanna, prairie, wetland, and an experimental garden.94 Debra Petro lives on Prairie Avenue and since 1988, she has grown native Illinois prairie and savanna plants as part of the Chicago Park District's Bob -O -Link Prairie Reconstruction Project 95 and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources' Hoosier Prairie Restoration Project. Rich Hyerczyk grows native Illinois prairie plants to help preserve native plants in cooperation with the Cook County Forest Preserve District.96 In 1991, the Chicago 5, fed up with the continuous threat of citation for violating the weed ordinance, filed suit in federal court to declare the Chicago Weed Ordinance unconstitutional.97 Beyond the legal arguments,98 the Chicago 5 raised compelling common sense arguments for allowing them to maintain natural landscapes in Chicago. The City cultivates a native prairie of wildflowers, legumes and grasses at The David Lee Animal Control Center on the near south side.99 The Cook County Forest Preserve District is aggressively reintroducing prairie plants throughout Chicago.' 0o The Chicago Park District is engaged in similar programs.' 01 Like the Park District, the Illinois Department of Transportation is reintroducing native prairies throughout the state. Its reasons are: (1) historical (Illinois is the "Prairie State "); (2) environmental (prairie plants are beneficial to wildlife); and (3) economical (by introducing prairie plants, IDOT is able to save money, and reduce gas consumption, wear and tear on IDOT machinery, and man- hours necessary to mow roadsides).102 The fact that homeowners are prosecuted while the governments that prosecute them plant natural landscapes demonstrates the tug -of -war between those who want to live the Land Ethic and those who want to continue the practices that ignore humankind's proper place within Nature. Some in government, like the Chicago Park District, recognize the Land Ethic. Others, like those who prosecute natural landscapers, do not. The view of the former is taking hold for a host of compelling reasons set forth below. http : / /www.epa.gov /glnpo /greenacres /weedlaws /JMLR.html 2/22/01