Chicagoans are saying yes to No Mow May and letting lawns grow wild for the sake of bees and butterflies
Forty communities across the United States are offering officially sanctioned No Mow Mays this year, including Appleton, which has about 1,200 registered participants. Del Toro estimated that 5,000 people are participating nationwide.and offered its first No Mow May this year, with free wildflower seed packs for participants. In Glenview, 292 residences signed up for a less ambitious No Mow ’Til Mother’s Day program offered by the village.
Murray said a few people had expressed concerns about allergies, ticks, “dandelions in general” and whether the additional weeds would lead to an increase in pesticides in 2023.Schoolchildren pass by the front yard of Barbara Dolan's home in Oak Park on May 24, 2022. “It’s supposed to be helpful for the environment and for local pollinators, and I’m a pretty big gardener, so anything I can do to attract more insects to my garden is always a good thing,” she said.