“Zooming” the Grass Away

June 23rd, 2020

   A little virus named Covid-19 changed the way the whole world works.

My first Zoom talk is going to be on replacing grass.

   One of the changes has been in how we communicate in group settings.

   Whether it’s a teacher in front of a class or a speaker at a conference, the whole concept of group talks got swept away overnight.

   To fill the void, a lot of groups switched to online talks called “webinars” – Internet-speak for seminars via the web.

   Lots of companies offer ways to do this, but one that’s really caught on – from virus-isolated family meet-ups to corporate conferencing – is Zoom. The company’s name has even spawned a new meaning of an old verb, as in, “Do you want to zoom next Thursday?”

   The gardening world has been doing a lot of zooming lately since the pandemic shutdown came at a time when gardening talks, seminars, and conferences are normally in peak mode.

   All of my spring talks simply got axed, but I’m going to be doing my first Zoom talk on Thur., Aug. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m., for Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh.

   I had originally contracted to do an in-person talk on “Goodbye Grass” in the Conservatory’s Botany Hill with a book-signing and refreshments beforehand.

   With the likelihood of coronavirus sticking around at least for the foreseeable coming months, Phipps’ staff and I agreed that Zoom might be a better way to go.

   Phipps has been doing Zoom programs already and says that, by and large, they’ve worked fine and have been well received. Some people even prefer the idea of participating in a live program without having to drive anywhere.

   The format works fine for me because the technology allows the showing of photos, videos, and whole PowerPoint programs on everybody’s home screens, along with little pictures of the “talking head” at the same time.

   Zooming doesn’t work quite as well for programs that rely on demonstrations, hands-on activities, and a lot of back-and-forth banter, although Zoom hosts can field questions and comments along the way.

   Another plus from my point of view is that it opens the door to attendees from beyond a local area.

   I figured that people interested in my Phipps talk would come mainly from Pittsburgh… probably no more than an hour’s drive away. But with the program now available at the click of a mouse, it’ll be just as easy for someone from Mechanicsburg or Harrisburg to access (or California, for that matter).

   If you’re curious, the “Goodbye Grass” talk is about eliminating grass and replacing it with something else that’s more interesting, more enviro- and wildlife-friendly, and probably even less work and expense in the long run.

   The general gist is that we tend to default to grass without really giving much thought to whether that plant is the best idea for the space.

   Most people also tend to under-estimate how much time and money we spend on lawns, assuming that other plants are a lot more work.

   I’m not a lawn-hater – there’s good reason for grass in many cases – but what other plant would we buy if we knew we had to prune it 25 times a year?

   The bulk of my Aug. 27 program will go into lawn alternatives, including other lower-care grassy options, groundcovers, meadows, mixed gardens of shrubs and low-care perennials, and converting to shady wooded areas by replacing lawns with trees.

   Registration is $25 per person ($35 for couples) with $5 off if you happen to be a Phipps Conservatory member.

   Here’s a link to Phipps for more information:  https://3989p.blackbaudhosting.com/3989p/Goodbye-Grass-with-George-Weigel

   See you in the Zoom room…