To dovetail off the current sibling comment -- what you are describing is still a monoculture. You could create a beautiful multi species meadow that would cyc

To dovetail off the current sibling comment -- what you are describing is still a monoculture. You could create a beautiful multi species meadow that would cycle through different plants with the seasons. Or you could build vegetable garden beds surrounded by wood mulch. Or use a low lying no-mow ground over. I'm not sympathetic to the neighbors who might not like it, though. If their yard's ecosystems isn't resilient then that's their problem.