Why are we so obsessed with lawns?(gardensillustrated.com) |
Why are we so obsessed with lawns?(gardensillustrated.com) |
No, no it doesnt. I leapt at the chance to get a robot to do it
Maybe the entire disagreement in this thread is just between people who think a patch of grass constitutes a lawn, and people who think a lawn is something else?
In that time, the main lawn is still grass dominated and fairly easy to cut. But many areas have become completely swamped with different bushes and willow.
I cut it all down twice per year but it shoots up like a jungle next year anyway.
Parts of old farm tracks have of course become unrecognizable and are slowly turning into a forest.
It's hard and tough to walk, you can't see properly as plants can grow quite tall (plus elevation differences).
I love plants; but for human enjoyment and passage between different areas on a plot of land; grass is superior. I dream of grass.
A birch growing for 5 years is already 3 metres tall and will prevent anything larger from growing around it.
I went to park, some guy was hunting ducks at pond, and after took dump at picnic area!
I admire people who still maintain their front yard, despite this constant vandalism!
We had one small japanese maple tree that they designated as a reading / relaxation area and have been using that too.
I think the biggest thing was the berms + paths around and over them. The topographical variety added a lot of play opportunities.
All that said we kept a small patch of grass- but it just isn't the entire yard as it was when we got our place.
Edit: removed counter point as a phrase
It has brought me so much joy! I observe so many interesting animal behaviors like birds playing on the springy yarrow flowers or bumble bees tumbling around the tiny clarkia blooms.
The three things that motivated me the most was Concrete Botany Audiobook[1], the Kill Your Lawn youtube series[2], and the interesting chats with neighbors who are interested in doing the same or have done the same.
That isn't to say it was easy or that I haven't gotten some strange comments like "your yard produces a lot of seeds that come into my lawn".
[1]: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798317900410-concrete-botany
Plus, the obsession some people have with mowing their lawn - I've got a particular neighbour who does it daily in the summer, for two hours I've got a constant engine roar in my ear.
When you prefer a better environment, but said better environment means having to at least leave the state... yeah, strong feelings seem warranted to me.
Just the potential for a couple of great days a year is enough for me. I’m not talking about the mega mansions that have full time gardeners and unused lawns of course.
This question is never asked by people who have kids that love football for example. And that’s a large part of the population.
When done right, they are so stunning and low maintenance. They also open up more options for interesting and dramatic lighting at night.
Thus, we have the natural inclination to raze it all and leave a very flat grass surface where no animal goes unnoticed.
This ends up translating into modern lawns a few hundreds of centuries later.
But once there were public lawns in cities, people found practical uses for them. Many popular ball games are still played on surfaces that resemble a lawn.
That same distinction makes sense for private lawns. Do you have a decorative garden, because your lot is larger than what you actually need? Or is the lawn a practical surface for open spaces you occasionally use?
I read your comment can be read as a reconfirmation of the articles thesis that we love lawns because they are always great for people where I am offering a counter-point that kids also love non-lawn yards.
Not creating an argument- just offering a different point.