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April 26, 2006
American Lawn
I was surfing around the other day and happened upon a truly fascinating article by Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma. The article is one of his oldest about American's fascinations with suburban lawns.
Like the interstate highway system, like fast-food chains, like television, the lawn has served to unify the American landscape; it is what makes the suburbs of Cleveland and Tucson, the streets of Eugene and Tampa, look more alike than not. According to Ann Leighton, the late historian of gardens, America has made essentially one important contribution to world garden design: the custom of ''uniting the front lawns of however many houses there may be on both sides of a street to present an untroubled aspect of expansive green to the passer-by.'' France has its formal, geometric gardens, England its picturesque parks, and America this unbounded democratic river of manicured lawn along which we array our houses.
I've never been a lawn kind of gal. We lived on a half-acre lot when I was growing up and I watched my dad while away the better part of his Saturdays mowing the damn thing, pruning the trees, trimming the hedges. It was gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but it took an inordinate amount of work. Most of our neighbors had services, but then most of our neighbors on our quaint and quiet little lane were also the retired original-owners my dad had grown up next to.
In Texas, a lawn is a strange and difficult obstacle to an otherwise hassle-free weekend. Texas lawns need year-round care, unlike my parents' lawn in Illinois which was covered in snow for the better part of the year. Texas lawns require weed killer and ant killer and snake killer and creative de-pollenation. I have no time for these things. I am all about letting nature do its thang. Native plants are beautiful and require very little maintenance. Gardening... well, I'm not good at it, but I do enjoy it, I must say.
For if lawn mowing feels like copying the same sentence over and over, gardening is like writing out new ones, an infinitely variable process of invention and discovery. Gardens also teach the necessary if rather un-American lesson that nature and culture can be compromised, that there might be some middle ground between the lawn and the forest--between those who would complete the conquest of the planet in the name of progress, and those who believe it's time we abdicated our rule and left the Earth in the care of its more innocent species. The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature half way.
David is our resident lawn-mower. He likes the lawn, and he's willing to take care of it. We've got our work cut out for us once the remodel is finished--chances are good that our lawn has been demolished along with much of the original house. Luckily, we live in a really cool neighborhood with amateur (and professional!) landscapers who have gone where we have not gone before. I look at our new yard as a fresh palette, an example of what the New American Lawn could look like if we met nature somewhere in the middle.
Posted by Christiane at April 26, 2006 11:43 AM
Comments
hi!
I'm very happy to see another Austin houseblog. I'll be adding some links to your stuff in about a month when I get back from vacation and really get started on my new old house. Your place looks like it's going to be fantastic. Best of luck!
Posted by: 611 owner at April 26, 2006 03:00 PM
Hey! As you know I'm about to make a plan for my whole yard. There's barely any grass now, just scrubby patches here and there, and I'm going to instruct the designer to include minimal grass. Lots of pathways, gardens, a patio garden, a grilling area, etc. I like working outside but would much rather have my hands in plants and flowers than mowing a huge football field haha.
Posted by: Amber at April 27, 2006 10:07 AM
Go for the native plants, they're the easiest to maintain. Of course a small patch of lawn is nice for letting the kids play but even that can be comprised of native "weed" ground cover.
Posted by: Ben at April 28, 2006 11:30 AM
Hey, 611, nice blog! The shot of your livingroom totally reminds me of our house, pre-demo.
Amber, I am so jealous of yr yard plan. I imagine that, ah, in 18 years or so I will finally be able to garden ;-)
Posted by: Christiane at April 28, 2006 11:33 AM
We are looking for at a 1960's home in downtown Georgetown and it needs a new door. We wanted one just like yous but can't find it. Where did you find yours?
Posted by: Cherie at July 23, 2006 12:43 PM
It was custom made for us by Centex Doors. They might remember the order if you tell them Ace at Superior Renovations ordered it.
(512) 251-4440
13800 Turbine Dr., Austin, TX 78728
Posted by: David E. at July 23, 2006 04:00 PM