Somersworth woman still hasn't cut her lawn. City suggests a pollinator garden loophole.

SOMERSWORTH — Jacqui Pierce, a resident of Rocky Hill Road, still has not cut her grass, and she might not be required to do so after all.

The city had ordered Pierce to cut her grass by Sept. 8, citing an ordinance that grass must be cut if it is taller than 8 inches high.

Pierce refused, she said, because wildflowers are growing on her lawn, and the wildflowers are good for bees and other pollinators.

When Foster's Daily Democrat published a story about the city's order and Pierce taking a stand for the bees, she said she received support from friends, families, strangers and even beekeepers from all across the state and region.

Instead of mowing the lawn, Pierce said she applied to the city to have her lawn designated a pollinator garden.

"I put in an application on Friday or Saturday," said Pierce. "I'll wait to hear."

City code officer suggests pollinator garden

It was Shane Conlin, the city's code compliance officer, who suggested she submit the application. He said Monday he has not yet seen her application, nor has he spoken to her.

"I wanted to know her intent is to be a pollinator garden," said Conlin. "It's important to know intent and if that's hers, we can talk about it."

Scott Orzechowski, chair of the city's Conservation Committee, said he has been thinking about how to address the issue of lawns vs. less manicured spaces that are better for the environment. But right now there are no guidelines on pollinator gardens in the city.

"I think it would be something we need to address through the ordinances," he said. "We do have a link to the National Wildlife Federation's community wildlife program on the Conservation Commission website, and I would personally like to see us take a look at how we define plants. I think we have a limited vision on how we view them. Basically, anything not a tree, shrub or cultivated flowers is considered a weed. That's too narrow."

In the meantime, Somersworth is pointing to its ordinance on lawn mowing.

"The height of grass is not exactly high on my list of priorities," said Conlin. "But it is an ordinance violation and it was brought to our attention, so I needed to respond to it. If she submits the application, this might be enough to deal with the problem in my eyes."

The city ordinance states: "All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weed or plant growth in excess of 8 inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens."

Pierce gets ideas and support from around region

Because Pierce added wildflower seed mixes to her lawn to sustain bees and other pollinators, she thinks her lawn can be considered "cultivated."

"I am amazed at the response," she said. "I heard from Boston television stations, from NHPR, from the Boston Globe. It has been incredible. I heard from so many people on social media. I heard from a woman, Mary Ellen McKeen, who is the president of the New Hampshire Beekeepers Association, and she wants to work with me to make Somersworth a Bee City."

The town of Durham is already a designated bee-friendly location.

When Pierce received a letter from city officials telling her to mow the lawn at her home she was angry after initially laughing about it.

"I am not cutting the grass," Pierce said earlier this month. "I have lived here for over four years. I work full time and I made a choice to let the grass and flowers grow. I want to feed the bees."

Pierce said she had started to do some mowing but when she saw the yellow flowers and the bees, she said she stopped.

"I spread wildflower seed around the yard, near where I have lilies planted," Pierce said. "I put more in the back yard. I did that intentionally, because I care about the bees. It is why I let the grass grow and as long as they are by those flowers, I am not cutting the grass. I will mow it when the flowers die. Pollinators are dying because of people's need for the whole high-maintenance lawns. I hate that."

Pierce runs a local dog training business, K9 To 5, in Dover. She said she is a responsible person for her business and her home, and she feels the city's notice is a violation of her rights.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Somersworth NH woman still hasn't cut lawn. City offers a loophole.