According to the Wall Street Journal, the rich are becoming tired of gardening as they juggle droughts, floods, pest plagues and the like. It's far easier, it seems, to rip out the garden and replace it with paving and artificial plants.

Here's what's on the way out in landscaping: grass, flowers and trees.

Grass, flowers and trees are on the way out! Is this so they can replace it with their environmentally non-friendly alternatives?

I understand why most people want low-maintenance gardens: busy lifestyles, differing priorities and the like. What I don't understand is why you would completely replace the garden? Especially when the availability of gardening equipment to cope with most maintenance conditions is more prevalent now than it ever has been. It's actually easier to garden now than when our grandparents did!