I love using ornamental grasses in garden design. They are elegant, pick up the natural light, have varied textures and tones, turn golden in the autumn, and hold a nice shape in the winter. They go well in a classic garden design, or a super modern space. Environmentally, they create habitat for small birds and beneficial insects and many, particularly native grasses, are drought tolerant and require no fertilizer. Here are some pictures of grasses in the Tennessee Valley in Marin County.