American Lawns

As I have traversed many a lawn over the years, lawnmower in tow, I have often wondered how we come by the desire to keep our little kingdoms so manicured and tended to. I make this observation without judgement. Personally, I like loose, wild and natural gardens as much as my perfect lawn - mown weekly, I might add.

Historically, I have seen the American Dream come to fruition through tiny blades, varying in hues, of green grass occupying land of the middle and wealthier classes. The less fortunate either tend their garden themselves or prefer a more natural look that requires no maintenance. But peoples' focus on their lawns reflect more than their socioeconomic standing. As life gets more hectic, your lawn (like your desk) evokes satisfaction and clarity when organized and well-kept.

As a country, we are young. We have not gone through the rigors of trial and error (failure) that older countries, like that of Europe. The settlers brought to America the ideals of land management and formal gardens that years of vetting hath wrought. We had a form of instant gratification in that early America. Instant knowledge of how to make each piece of land aesthetically pleasing and productive. When you see photos of town and city homes from the daguerreotype of the late 1800s, the gardens and grass were pristine. Two centuries later that instict still follows.

Nothing short of an alien invasion or severe draught will deter people from their lawns, myself included. I believe there is always a place for lawns in landscape. As Calvin said to Hobbes, 'You can tell how good your day was by the grass stains on your knees."

Michael Pollen suggests in his book 'Botany of Desire' that by way of evolution plants have made themselves attractive to humans, thus ensuring their survival. Grass is a beautiful case study.

Does a well-manicured lawn reflect upon us as a whole? Are Americans little princes and princesses that deign ourselves important by the grass we keep? Are we masters of our land, our lawns? Perhaps. But the truth is, the grass is no greener on the other side. And if it was, it'd be harder to mow.