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Weed Laws Article on Landscaping (John Marshall Law Review) Page 24 of 27 The final recurrent criticism of natural landscapes is that such yards simply "don't look nice." Neighbors wish to live next door to neighbors who have yards of "beauty." To some, natural landscapes look unattended and "messy." Such shallow arguments demonstrate the underlying motivation that some feel to control the actions of those who dare to be different. "What beauty is I know not, but it dependeth upon many things." 184 Although some believe that beauty is visual, the Land Ethic teaches that beauty is determined by how an activity, plant or species fits within the natural world) 85 Humankind must conform its yards with nature, not some artificial model. Natural landscapes conform to nature and are things of beauty. On a perceptual level, a yard ablaze with colorful wildflowers and majestic flowing native grasses impresses the viewer and attracts positive responses from passersby. For example, Chicago's Grant Park, contains the two -acre "The Wildflower Works." 1$6 The Chicago Park District is planting native coneflowers and day lilies along the 4 -1/2 mile -long median of Lake Shore Drive, Chicago's most famous street. The program is considered the first of its kind in the nation and if the planting proves successful, the Chicago Park District plans to naturally landscape other major streets in the city.187 The State of Illinois ripped out the tulip end rose garden on the grounds of the State Capitol end replaced it with native Illinois prairie plants. Illinois believes the aesthetic appeal of native landscapes is more pleasing then traditional exotic landscapes end with respect to the claim that natural landscapes are ugly and decrease neighboring property values, the opposite appears to be true.188 These aesthetic qualities of natural landscapes have been embraced by corporate America. Sears, Roebuck & Company is plant -ing a landscape of prairie grasses and forbes around its new headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.189 Not only does Sears view the use of a natural landscape as en ecologic end economic benefit, but Sears plans to use the natural landscaping as a marketing tool to attract other corporate office users to the 786 acre site. Sears' plans have been called a "landmark" in the natural landscaping movement.190 Other corporations, large and small, utilize natural landscaping at their corporate headquaters for ecologic, economic and aesthetic reasons. These include: McDonald's in Oak Brook, Illinois; Westbend Mutual Insurance in Westbend, Wisconsin; Schneider Tracking in Greenbay, Wisconsin; and Promega Corporation, a biotech company in Madison, Wisconsin.191 Ultimately, the aesthetic argument against natural landscaping is illogical. One man's weed is another man's rose.192 To some, pink plastic flamingoes, polka - dotted bloomered cardbord ladies, twirling plastic sunflowers, astro - turf - covered front stoops, end perfectly sculpted evergreens look simply ridiculous; but to others, such landscaping is beautiful. People have a right to astro - turf - covered stoops, closely cropped evergreens, end spinning plastic sunflowers in their yards. That is the American way. But individuals also have the right to a natural stone walkway, http: / /www.epa.gov /glnpo /greenacres /weedlaws /JMLR.html 2/22/01