Lawn and order
What is it about lawns and people? It is something that has escaped me over the years, the yearning to have a patch of Kentucky green that would make Tiger Woods show up with his putter in tow.
My approach has been minimalist to say the least, and I am sure some of my neighbours, whose mission in life seems to be to eradicate anything, with chemicals, and internal combustion machines, that infringes on their quest to green monocultures, rue the day I moved in.
To me dandylions are beautiful, the leaves can be left to compost, the weeds may thrive and in general if it grows, and can survive my dogs and me playing frisbee, then it is welcome on my lawn. In fact, I am working to reduce the amount of lawn that I have and have already created havens for squirrels, thistles, insects, spiders and all sorts of species who would never be able to live in the green deserts that we call lawns. Yes, indeed that is what lawns are. They are devoid of diversity, living carpets of thin bladed green imported from who knows where, that needs to weeded, sprayed, manicured, cut, raked and fawned over like some precious life.
Here is the lawn reality. The grass of almost all lawns in not indigenous, its imported and genetically altered to maximize its salability. An average sized lawn displaces, in Canada, roughly, 100 indigenous plants species, 50 species of insects, spiders and arthropods and trees. Amphibians, birds, small mammals and millions of microbes are also pushed out physically.
Then there are the pesticides. Mounting evidence shows that pesticides that are designed to keep the monoculture pure, also has an effect well outside its intended application. Our cancer rates are soaring, immuno-diseases climbing and still I can look out my window and more often that not see the backside of my corpulent neighbour administering yet another shot of some noxious chemical stew to the plucked and preened green called lawn.
And while he prisses away his time, with pesticide spray and lawn mower, I watch the wind blow dandy lion fluff and hope a seed escapes his notice.
September 26th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Mr. Zurawski,
I, personally, would prefer to tear up my lawn and cover the ground with some kind of mulch. I prefer the look of a wilderness park to a football field. I also wonder if the “Battle Against Dandelions” would cease if the flowers bloomed in different colors (rather than just yellow and, I think, orange in some cases). Can you imagine a lawn full of yellow, orange, red, and blue dandelions? I think people’s views may be different then. Maybe someday mother nature will bless us with an array of dandelions with such colors as our Autumn leaves. Unless, of course, someone tinkers with genetics first.
Just my two cents worth. Watched and listened to you since I can remember. You’re #1 in my book.
Take Care,
Colin Wentzell
October 1st, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Thank you Colin
Viva Dandylions! Down with lawns and all that.
Thanks for the comment and enjoy the wild.
r