Did my neighborhood actually get greener or am I just imagining it?

I live in a older part of Austin, Texas and I swear the tree canopy has gotten way thicker in just the last 5 years. Back in 2019 you could see clear sky from my driveway, now the street is almost fully shaded in summer. Some of it is from the city planting saplings along the curb, but I think a bigger factor is people swapping out their grass lawns for native plants and shrubs. I've got three neighbors who ripped out their St. Augustine and put in live oaks and wildflowers instead. On the flip side, I also notice more concrete going down for new driveways and patios. So is this a real trend or just confirmation bias because I'm paying attention? Has anyone else seen their block change noticeably in terms of greenery vs pavement over a short span? I'm trying to figure out if individual choices like planting trees actually move the needle or if it's all just cosmetic feel-good stuff.

3 comments

3 Comments

emery106d ago

Wait are you me? Same thing happening in my Austin neighborhood too.

phoenixk646d ago

Used to think this was just my street being weird but seeing it happen all over Austin is wild.

wilson.olivia6d ago

Started ripping out my own lawn and honestly it made a huge difference.