A Purcellville couple and homeowners association are preparing to battle it out in court over whether a meadow should be mowed.

In 2014, the association overseeing the Farmington on the Green development asked Michael and Sian Pugh to mow down a two-acre meadow that had existed since the home was built in 1989. The meadow on the 5.6-acre property – which is shielded from public view by trees – contains wildflowers, Monarch butterflies and other beneficial insects that make it worth preserving, said Pugh, who bought the property in 2005. The rest of the 3.6 acres is well manicured, he said.

“Like the two owners before me, I have [the meadow] bush hogged on occasion to keep the woody growth down,” Pugh said. “We get deer, foxes, rabbits, hawks and all kinds of butterflies, including Monarchs… It is an awesome and beautiful feature of the property.”

After being told to mow the meadow, the Pughs attended meetings and stated their views on wanting to retain the two-acre parcel’s wild features. The association refused to rescind the violation, while not putting a lien on the property.  Read more: