Grassroots Politics

Greg Cooper says he has the perfect lawn—green, no weeds, well-maintained. Even the local yards agent for the county extension service calls it "attractive." But St. Petersburg, Florida, authorities say there's a problem: It's artificial. Copper has covered his yard with Waterless Grass, a high-tech alternative to grass that never needs mowing. But the city code says yards must be covered with herbaceous sod or plant material, not plastic. Cooper must now convince the city council to amend the city code or go back to grass.