As a new American and a new homeowner, Laurence Brown is facing new responsibilities that many of us are quite used to. He finally got around to mowing his lawn, which involved assembling a mower. And it's not even a power mower! It's a good thing his yard is small. Along the way, he muses on the differences between the way the British and Americans landscape the area around their homes, with wit and resignation.
Brown also touches upon the real reason we try to stay up on yard maintenance during the summer, which is to avoid shaming from our neighbors. That's a sad but true fact among Americans in suburbia. I am of the opinion that there is only one proper reaction to a neighbor who doesn't keep their yard mowed, and that is to go by and say hello, to find out if they are sick or injured and may need help. Otherwise, it is their business.
One single 2-stroke motor like a scooter, leaf blower or mower equals ~36 cars idling. Each.
ReplyDeleteWe got a reel mower when we first bought our house--but it did not work well, so we got a self-propelled mower. I prefer hiring a landscaping company to mow our lawn, but money is tight right now.
ReplyDeleteOur town has a law that lawns have to be kept to an 8" height or lower.
Apparently, the previous owners of our house liked dandelions. I am glad they got over that before putting the house on the market.