Less Lawn, More Life: How We Turned Our Florida Yard into a Wildlife Haven

Hi, I’m Amy Franqui, a Master Gardener Volunteer based in Atlantic Beach, Florida. I’m excited to share how my husband Mike and I transformed our yard into a certified Florida-Friendly landscape—and became the first residential yard in Duval County to earn the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Natural Recognition!

Signs hang on a wooden post in the garden — We proudly display our Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Natural Level and wildlife habitat signs—symbols of a yard that gives back to the community.

Why We Ditched the Lawn

Have you ever really thought about what birds eat? I’ll give you a hint—they don’t eat St. Augustine grass.

Once we realized our traditional lawn offered little to no wildlife value—no berries, no seeds, no nectar, and no insects (thanks to past pesticide treatments)—we started to ask ourselves: Why are we working so hard to maintain a yard that doesn’t give anything back?

The fertilizing, the mowing, the watering… all for what? There’s a quote I love by Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home:

“A plant that has fed nothing has not done its job.”

That one line changed everything for us.

Our Yard Transformation

In the summer of 2022, we began rethinking our landscape with one goal in mind: create a low-maintenance, sustainable, wildlife-friendly space that actually benefits the environment. We reduced our lawn by 90% and filled the space with Florida native plants that provide food, shelter, and nesting material for birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects.

front yard with grass and a few small trees — Before: Our front yard was once a patch of mostly grass, offering minimal ecological value–as seen in this street view.

Simple front yard with a few trees. — Before the transformation, stepping out our front door offered little visual interest or connection to nature.

A native garden in front of a small house — After: Today our native landscape is alive with beauty and purpose. Layered with diverse habitat features, it supports birds, butterflies, and pollinators year-round.

Front yard with mulched pathway and many native shrubs and wildflowers — Our garden path now invites us to explore and enjoy a peaceful nature walk–right outside our front steps.

Our irrigation system has been turned off for about two years. We no longer fertilize—instead, we compost and “leave the leaves,” raking them into existing mulch beds. We’ve also stopped using pesticides altogether. And, our yard is flourishing.

Large white and brown dog lays in the garden — Blue, our 14-year-old coonhound, lounging on the lush mat of Swamp Twinflower (Dyschoriste humistrata), a native groundcover that lines our front garden path. This patch is his personal favorite hangout while we’re outside birdwatching.

One of our favorite things to do now is simply spend time in the yard.

We feel fortunate that we don’t have to drive to a local park or trail to go birding. We have our very own nature park right at home. It’s a common sight for our neighbors to see us walking around the front yard with a cup of coffee in one hand and a pair of binoculars in the other! Mike is also a professional photographer. His photos of the birds, butterflies, and native blooms in our yard have not only helped us with species identification but also become a beautiful addition to my Master Gardener presentations.

Bird sits atop a shrub with berries — A mockingbird perches on American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), a native shrub that produces vibrant magenta berries birds love.

What Is Florida-Friendly Landscaping™?

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ is a statewide program by UF/IFAS that promotes sustainable gardening practices that conserve water, reduce chemical inputs, and protect Florida’s natural resources. Landscapes are evaluated across nine core principles—from right plant, right place to wildlife habitat, recycling yard waste, and more.

In 2024, FFL introduced a new tier of recognition called the Natural level. This honor is awarded to landscapes that go above and beyond in supporting biodiversity, reducing resource use, and creating ecological havens.

The Impact: Wildlife, Water Savings, and Joy

Small bird splashing in birdbath — A female painted bunting enjoying one of our birdbaths—a key water source for wildlife.

We didn’t originally set out to earn recognition—our goal was simply to make our yard better for birds, butterflies, and our local ecosystem. And as it turns out, that shift made all the difference.

Since turning off our irrigation system, we’ve seen a meaningful reduction in our water usage—and our monthly bills. In 2022, our average water bill was around $140. By 2024, that average was cut in half, dropping to about $70 per month. Our household water habits have remained the same, so this

Monarch butterfly lands on yellow wildflower — A beloved adult monarch butterfly feeding on native Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata).

change reflects a real savings just from rethinking our landscape and letting go of the lawn.

We’ve identified over 65 species of birds and 20 species of butterflies in our yard alone. What was once a mostly lifeless patch of grass is now alive with the sound of birdsong, the flutter of wings, and the buzz of native bees.

We’ve saved money on water and lawn care. But most of all, we’ve created something that brings us joy every single day.

How You Can Get Started

bee hovers over purple flower — A friendly bee collecting pollen from native Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis).

If you’re inspired to create your own native or Florida-Friendly yard, the first step is easy: schedule a free yard review.

In Duval County, trained Master Gardener Volunteers (a.k.a. “Yarders”) will visit your property, walk your landscape, and offer thoughtful, research-based suggestions to help you meet Florida-Friendly principles. If your landscape qualifies, you can earn recognition at the Silver, Gold, or Natural level.

To schedule your yard review in Duval County, email Stephanie Means, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program Assistant or call (904) 255-7450. For other areas, contact your county’s Extension Office.

Final Thoughts

Hummingbird on a branch — A male ruby-throated hummingbird landing on the native River Birch tree in our yard—a regular visitor thanks to native nectar plants.

Whether you’re starting small with a few native plants or ready to rethink your entire yard, know that every effort matters. Together, we can create more sustainable, biodiverse communities—one yard at a time.

Let’s bring nature home.

Written by Duval County Master Gardener Volunteer, Amy Franqui. All photos by Mike Franqui. Used with permission.