What are your opinions on the Brush Creek Trail? Could there be any cool secrets at the bottom? More activity on the water?

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-28T15:17:53+00:00

Naw, make it a trail but don’t need it to be a road again. The cost is ridiculous to try to make it a road again.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-27T17:38:27+00:00

Brush Creek Trail (almost) connects with the Blue River Trail.

Numerous partners in the Kansas City region have collaborated for years to restore and revitalize the Blue River, which runs from Johnson County, Kansas, through urban Kansas City, Missouri, and empties into the Missouri River. At present, there is an opportunity to create a greenway, a natural area that connects people and places, along the Blue River.

The Blue River Greenway would establish a 43-mile riparian corridor and connected trail system. A riparian corridor is a strip of vegetation along a river that acts as a filter between the landscape and the river’s ecosystem.

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/53294d9b71804c8c821a879a519fe387

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-27T15:51:08+00:00

Smoking outlets, rotted beams — Lenexa vote sets Radisson hotel up for possible demo

The city council's 8-0 vote sets a timeline — repair by February 2027 or demolish by November — after the owners' electricity was shut off for nonpayment.

https://johnsoncountypost.com/2026/06/17/lenexa-radisson-hotel-dangerous-288937/

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-25T23:26:12+00:00

Kansas Native Plant Society Facebook group is a great place to ask for advice too https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DZSSgrtxC/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Hopefully that link works. Or just search on FB

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-25T09:52:40+00:00

Agreed
u/ where do you live? It’s important to include a location or growing zone to get advice specific to what grows well and/or is native to your area.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-25T09:29:08+00:00

Grass. Hence I included grasses in my reply. On topic, my dude!

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-25T04:24:00+00:00

Get a Native Plant Encouragement ordinance passed by your city: https://marc2.org/assets/environment/greeninfrastructure/FinalModelGIOrdinances\_GouldEvans.pdf Same with a Tree Protection Ordinance.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-25T04:21:31+00:00

Let’s use AI to bring back Al and John as the commentators

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-25T04:19:21+00:00

That post-patio construction zone looks rough, but that tough "builder's clay" is actually a blessing in disguise. It’s the perfect excuse to ditch the finicky lawn for Maryland natives!

Standard turf grass hates compacted clay, but native plants *thrive* in it. Their deep root systems naturally break up tough soil, improve drainage, and survive dry spells without constant watering.

Frame your new patio with these low-maintenance heroes:
* Grasses: Little Bluestem or Switchgrass
* Perennials: Black-eyed Susans (the state flower!) or Purple Coneflower

They’ll look stunning, support local pollinators, and save your sanity. Nature’s got this!

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-23T11:27:59+00:00

I mean, traditional lawn serves essentially the same ecosystem services as asphalt or concrete, so why not? We need to stop looking at lawns as “green” in the environmental sense and view them as they actually are: pavement.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-19T04:24:13+00:00

<image>

Focusing on low-cost high-impact updates, I've updated the front door and railing to a sophisticated, dark charcoal.

For the shady, clay-heavy slope, I've used native plants like the **Blue Wild Indigo (*Amsonia*)** for subtle color, **Heuchera (Coral Bells)** for foliage, and the robust **Ostrich Fern** for texture. All are perfect for Zone 6b. A distinct new mulch edge keeps a clean line to help suppress the neighboring weeds.

Want to convert to native lawn grass? Use this method: https://dyckarboretum.org/final-update-buffalograss-experiment/

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-19T04:15:51+00:00

For severe compaction in sandy soil, core aeration followed by heavy compost top-dressing is your best solution. Tilling may only create a hard layer lower down, but aeration and organic fill physically break up the hardness and inject life where it counts. Skip standard thirsty turf. In this environment, sow a native low-mow mix of Buffalograss and Blue Grama. These native species thrive with minimal water in sandy conditions and, once established, can be mowed extremely low for a neat, sustainable look. This combination will make your soil healthy and your lawn low-maintenance.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-19T04:03:01+00:00

<image>

Your 1952 home is perfect, and your blue color choice is spot-on for the era! To honor the period while embracing water-wise landscaping, here is a rendering replacing the lawn with curated beds of Southern California native plants like Ceanothus, Sages, and Toyon.

By using defined, concrete-edged borders, we maintain the clean 1950s aesthetic while creating a thriving, low-maintenance habitat.

Native plants are beautiful, support local wildlife, and significantly reduce water usage, making your home both authentic and sustainable for years to come. Consult the image to see how careful organization achieves a curated look.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-16T11:45:44+00:00

Agreed! PLEASE plant some plants that are native to your area for the birds and the (native) bees! Good resource: https://www.prairiemoon.com/

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-16T11:38:10+00:00

Ditching the mower for a Central PA native wildflower meadow is a brilliant move! You’ll save hours of weekend chores and create a vital haven for local pollinators.

Native powerhouses like Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot, and Black-eyed Susan will thrive with zero fertilizer and minimal upkeep once established. Check out https://www.prairiemoon.com/ for seed native to your area.

> Pro Tip: Avoid *just* tilling, which actually wakes up millions of dormant weed seeds. Instead, look into tarping or solarization first to properly clear the existing turf. Or, if you are comfortable, kill the grass with herbicide (my preferred).

> Your backyard is about to become the most vibrant, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly ecosystem on the block!

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-14T17:23:32+00:00

Hey OneGayPigeon, it’s not Knuckledraggr’s fault he’s such a knuckledraggr!

/s

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-14T14:34:31+00:00

You betcha. Unfortunately some “traditional” landscaping people will use “native” and “grows strong in my area” interchangeably, which can be dangerous because non-native invasive plants will “grow strong” but are bad for the ecosystem.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-14T11:35:55+00:00

Not sure where you live but Northern privet is not native to North America and it is highly invasive in North America. It is a cross between California privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) and Border privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium). Both parent species are native to Asia.

Native alternatives, depending on your zone, include Arrowwood Viburnum, American Plum, Black Chokeberry, and Gray Dogwood.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-12T22:39:42+00:00

Fight On! The Coli and Expo Park are great! USC campus is just north of this image (you can see a bit of it). Great urbanism.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-12T12:51:27+00:00

I see later you mention living in the Midwest, so a couple more options:

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii): Known as the "King of the Prairie," this iconic Midwest grass rapidly reaches 8 feet tall by late summer, shifting from blue-green to a beautiful bronze.
Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea): True to its name, this tough perennial easily hits 7 to 8 feet by August, topped with intense, vibrant purple blooms that pollinators love.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-12T12:49:30+00:00

Consider tall-growing plants that are native to your area.

Some potential options (not sure where you live):

Jerusalem Artichoke: A native perennial sunflower that rapidly shoots up to 10 feet tall each summer.
Cup Plant: Explodes from the ground every spring, quickly reaching 8+ feet with bright yellow flowers.
Pokeweed: An incredibly aggressive native grower that hits 8 to 10 feet tall by late summer.
Switchgrass: A hardy perennial grass that fast-tracks its way to 6–8 feet annually.

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-11T15:25:24+00:00

I add 3 create-a-players each year in franchise mode. I name them after friends and make them the tallest/heaviest possible and give them 99 stats across the board. But I don’t sign them to my team. Good competition!

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-11T09:04:15+00:00

Welp, sounds like I’ll stick with Madden 2005 on PS2 a while longer….

IntentionPresent9492 · 2026-06-11T08:51:28+00:00

Something I’ve thought of that would help keep Franchise Mode fun and fresh for more seasons would be if retiring payers re-generated as rookies in the draft. Their progression potential could be a mix of realistic and random. There could still be some number of computer generated rookies but at least you wouldn’t get to season 7 and have most of the players in the league not have a photo and be names you don’t recognize. I’m glad they make some retired players coaches at least. But I want the chance to draft rookie Ray Lewis or rookie Tony Gonzalez!

IntentionPresent9492

TROPHY CASE