FEELING DEFEATED BY YOUR LAWN around now, when it seems to grow overnight? Apparently Mr. and Mrs. Andre are, especially since The Guy Next Door upgraded to a riding model, leaving them in the dust at mowing time. (Fortunately, I don’t think he can hear their “greeting” over the dueling engines.) I’m of the split mower personality myself, with half tractor time, half walk-behind. Do you have a sweet ride, or are you still a push-over?
lawn care (organic)
Organic lawn-care tactics for a safe, healthy lawn.
doodle by andre: that’s some sweet ride!
May 20, 2010 at 12:20 am
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what’s wrong with this picture? (hint, it’s april!)
April 16, 2010 at 7:25 am
YES, THERE CAN BE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING. This lesson resounded yesterday when mowing season—a part of gardening that I actually enjoy—began more than two weeks early. I haven’t even finished the needed lawn repairs…and now, this. Vroom! [read more…]
doodle by andre: homicidal instincts?
June 4, 2009 at 9:35 am
A PPARENTLY HIS ENGLISH UPBRINGING didn’t prepare him for our American mania for mowing. Andre the now-Nebraskan doodler, who recently became a homeowner with a yard of his own to tame, seems to be feeling a little, shall we say, agitated. If I recall correctly, Robert Frost didn’t say, “Good weed whackers make good neighbors,” did he? Sigh. You? Any power tools got you buzzing mad?
long-weekend rant: do you like to mow? (part 2)
May 22, 2009 at 3:59 pm
(A reprise of a favorite post, perfect for summer’s official kickoff.)
I HAVE A LOVE-HATE THING GOING WITH MOWING: I always feel it’s a time-waster, but I am also always relieved there’s “mowing to be done” since that means legitimate escape from things like writing the book I have due. Mowing has immediate, tangible results; you cut grass blades, and they look cut. You try to write and, well, sometimes you don’t get any words. So tell me, do you like to mow? We’ve talked about this before, and instead of repeating myself I could have checked that you’re following the tomato-growing tips and using a rain gauge when you water and pruning your fading lilacs…or asked if you’re almost done with the May chores list. But it’s a holiday, so before I go out to you-know-what (also known as avoid writing), I’ll simply ask if you like to mow, and also say one more thing: My frogboys, all my innumerable sisters and I wish you a happy, healthy, safe, delicious long weekend, mowing or its avoidance notwithstanding.
looking for me? i’ll be outside edging
May 8, 2009 at 1:19 pm
M EANT TO WRITE SOMETHING JUICY TODAY, but then I remembered: I have hundreds and hundreds (and hundreds) of more feet of garden edge to cut. Sorry, friends; duty calls. Be right back, once things start to look a bit tidier out there. There’s nothing like a clean edge to bring things into focus in May. Here’s how I do it, if you missed the drill last year.
tell the truth: do you like to mow?
August 13, 2008 at 2:44 pm
IT’S A SIMPLE QUESTION: DO YOU LIKE TO MOW? Unless, of course, like me you have a love-hate thing going with mowing. I am always irritated that there’s mowing to be done. But I am also always relieved, since “mowing to be done” means legitimate escape from things like writing, which sometimes has me circling the airport, not landing the plane, if you know what I mean. Mowing: Now there is something with immediate, tangible results. You cut the grass blades, and they look cut. You try to write and, well, sometimes you don’t get any words. So tell me, do you like to mow? Going out to mow now…
(japanese) beetle juice
August 1, 2008 at 3:30 pm
OK, SO I’M A HOMICIDAL MANIAC AT THE MOMENT. What are you busy offing in your version of Trouble in Paradise? [read more…]
putting a fine edge on things
June 6, 2008 at 6:59 am
OKAY, I WILL ADMIT TO A BIT OF A COMPULSION about edging. It is my contention that even a mediocre garden can look pretty swell with a clean edge on it (or at least you’ll impress people with your mastery of edging in and of itself). With many, many hundreds of linear feet of garden edges to cut between turf and border each year, I ought to know. Want to see how?
new spiritual practice
May 18, 2008 at 8:10 am
MY NEW SPIRITUAL PRACTICE is a moving meditation aimed at dandelions, a ritual that brings me into touch with my own powerlessness, and also my own power. Want to meditate with me?
