The small town of Appleton, Wis., offered up a number of idyllic scenes as I drove through it last May.
Something was not normal here. Many of the homes had wild lawns. They have long grass, bright yellow dandelions and carpets of purple creeping Charlie, a far cry from the traditional American lawn.
The homes were not abandoned or neglected, and there were no stacks of newspapers on their porches. The city asked residents to put away their lawn mowers for the month of May. This allowed plants that are typically identified as weeds to flower.
Appleton's No Mow May initiative had a clear purpose: to save the bees and not just honeybees, but also native bees, such as bumble bees, mining bees and sweat bees.
The bees are facing decline. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, nearly one in four native bee species in North America is at risk.
Poor habitat for bees is provided by lawns. If allowed to flower, lawn weeds can provide rare spring food for bees.
Appleton is a small college town located on the shores of the Fox River. No Mow May was popular in Britain and two assistant professors knew about it. They wondered if the initiative would take root here.
In 2020, Appleton became the first city in the United States to adopt No Mow May, with 435 homes taking part.
The impact of No Mow May on Appleton's bees was studied by Dr. Del Toro and Dr. Ribbons. No Mow May lawns had five times the number of bees and three times the bee species as parks. They asked other communities to participate because of this information.
No Mow May was adopted by a dozen communities. It spread to communities in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Montana.
When I was looking to make my own yard more friendly to bees, I learned about No Mow May. I helped organize No Mow May in Shorewood Hills, where I live. I began photographing the movement across Wisconsin when I realized how quickly it was spreading.
The mayor of Stevens Point, Wis., supported No Mow May last year. The number of people who registered for the event was double what they anticipated.
I met Ana Merchak, a resident of Stevens Point, while taking photos. She said that her kids can grow up and see bees every day.
The initiative brought the local population together and Ms. Merchak was happy about it.
Some people didn't like the unmown lawns. Allison Roberts, a resident of Prairie du Chien, Wis., participated in No Mow May even though her city hadn't adopted it. She woke up from a nap to find police officers outside.
She said that they were here to make sure she wasn't dead.
Her neighbors were not happy with her lawn. One of them was unable to stand the sight and eventually mowed it.
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There is lodging. Travelers discovered the privacy offered by rental residences. They hope to compete by offering stylish extended-stay properties, sustainable options, rooftop bars and co-working spaces.
Rental cars. Travelers can expect higher prices and older cars with high mileage since companies still haven't been able to expand their fleets. Are you looking for an alternative? Car-sharing platforms might be more affordable.
Cruises. Demand for cruises remains high despite a bumpy start to the year. Because they sail on smaller ships and steer away from crowded destinations, luxury expedition voyages are particularly appealing right now.
There are destinations. Travelers are eager to visit a city like Paris or New York. Some resorts in the U.S. are experimenting with an almost all-inclusive model that takes the guess work out of planning a vacation.
Experiences. Sexy travel options include couples retreats and beachfront sessions with intimacy coaches. Trips with an educational bent are becoming more popular with families with children.
Ms. Roberts plans to participate in No Mow May again next year.
The Appleton Common Council made No Mow May permanent. Many other Wisconsin municipalities are either considering or already adopting it.
The efforts may be paying off. A rusty patched bumble bee was spotted for the first time at a downtown Appleton home last year.
The initiative is only a starting point for bee preservation, according to experts.
The role of urban and suburban environments for bees is huge, according to Dr. Del Toro, who said he now receives emails from Appleton residents asking how to incorporate other bee-friendly practices.
He said that they have to start thinking about what their role is in the city.
For a lot of us, that may mean sitting and watching the grass grow.
Anne Readel is a lawyer. You can follow her work on social media.
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