Mowing the Course
Inspired by Front Yard Gardens, by Liz Preimeau, I have removed about 25% of the lawn so far and replaced it with gardens. I plan on tackling another quarter this fall and perhaps one more quarter the following fall. The new garden area is a combination of border and island beds, so the lawn is not only reduced, but is being transformed into grass paths.
As Mike’s only yard duties are mowing and cleaning the gutters (and he detests them both), I thought he’d be pleased by the reduction of lawn area. His comment after mowing on Saturday: “It’s like a goddamn obstacle course out here.” I thought it would be more fun for him - like a race course! I suppose that is the Pollyanna in me.
posted by Kasmira at 28.8.06
11 Comments:
I suggest painting racing stripes on the mower, just to get him in the mood.
Oh,I've heard similar comments-I try to make any newer beds round or oval to make it easier for my husband.
A few years ago I put four large semi-circular beds in the middle of the lawn in the backyard. I thought it would help not to have so much lawn to mow, but instead I created the "obstacle course" monster! However since I'm the mower, I don't complain (well, nobody would care if I did!)
I'm laughing at garden obsession's suggestion....
Maybe if you connected the borders and islands, to make just a few major islands?
Hee hee! I have the same problem. I want to reduce and eventually eliminate my lawn but every time I add a bed, it's makes mowing more difficult. I just do what you suggested. Keep telling myself that eventually there will be no lawn left to mow as I navigate the "obstacle course".
Oh, just get rid of the rest of the lawn already!!! *grin*
I love that book, by the way. I don't own it, but I probably will someday. It often gets grabbed at Borders so I can leaf through it while I drink tea with my boyfriend.
Too funny, Kasmira, and too true! If I weren't the mower, my obstacle course would drive my husband nuts, too.
Annie
Visiting Ocean City New Jersey last week we spotted a cottage down the street from our rental which had nothing but flowers in the front yard. It was gorgeous: zinnias, salvia, hollyhocks, sunflowers, a little cleome, malva, snapdragons...a riot of rainbow color, attracting butterlfies and 2 humungous black and yellow spiders. I couldn't help it, I had to knock and tell the gardener how beautiful it was and how daring, to eliminate the lawn. He kept indicating that he did indeed still have lawn (two stripes of grass leading to the backyard) but to get rid of the excited crazy lady he did graciously let me have some hollyhock seeds for my garden. If not for the big ornamental cherry tree in our front yard I'd be out stripping sod right now. If you have a dog or kids, though, better to keep some grass for now!
Boy, does that sound familiar, Kasmira.
My husband used to have snits every time I added a new garden area. Eventually they get used to it. ;)
I took out my front grass over several years...the neighbors kept joking about it all being gone one day and I'd say "No...this is the last bit I'm taking out." Then one day it just happened and I couldn't be happier! I am, however, trying to resist the compulsion in the backyard...since I have a family child care program in my home and the kids need somewhere to run! I guess if I cared about grass I'd take better care of it and it might look better, but we'll never know...it's just a cover crop for the time being.
Maybe you can look into a product called "Gutter Helmet" that will eliminate the need to clean the leaves in your gutters. This, combined with less time spent on mowing (due to less lawn) will give Mike more time to help you in the garden. We’ll turn him into a garden lover yet!
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