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Field Journal

a collection of resources, reflections, and design stories

What the Lawn Remembers
Audioessay, Design Deep-Dive Tom TY Audioessay, Design Deep-Dive Tom TY

What the Lawn Remembers

In neighborhoods across America, the lawn is everywhere… and yet barely noticed. It’s a symbol, a surface, a habit. But what if we started seeing it differently? In this reflection from a landscape designer's balcony, we explore the emotional, ecological, and cultural story of the lawn—from Easter egg hunts and outdoor theater to monocultures, displacement, and design futures rooted in care. This is an invitation to see lawn not as default, but as decision.

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Butterflies Aren’t Picky—We Are
Design Deep-Dive Tom TY Design Deep-Dive Tom TY

Butterflies Aren’t Picky—We Are

So how do we embrace these "messy" ecosystems—not just as acceptable, but as beautiful? How can we shift from rejecting functional, life-giving landscapes to celebrating them? By unpacking both our biological instincts and cultural conditioning, we can begin to design a new aesthetic: one that frames hope, resilience, and a thriving future.

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