It is amazing how many consecutive beautiful days we have been having this spring here in Eastern Iowa. As I have been taking more walks this week, it is fun to see the trees fill, the grass shoot up and the blooming of so many flowers; intentional and not so intentional. Dandelions next to bluebells; lilac blooming next to a pine; clover amongst grass.
Today was no different as I walked through the neighborhood. Nearing the house, I came upon a yard that had incredibly tight packed clover growth. It made me laugh as I thought it was miniature clover, even for a Leprechaun! As I walked past the next yard, I saw a neatly manicured lawn. It made me stop and think about the vegetative difference between the neighboring yards, and what we miss out on naturally because society has set forth a picture perfect ideal of a lawn.
I let things grow in my yard; partly out of curiosity, but more so due to the awe and wonder the diversity of nature has in our tiny little half acre. My wife seems annoyed by my lawn care philosophy, but she tends to let it slide as she knows how much I enjoy the growth. Not to mention the oxygen.
I understand there are fertilizers, weed killers, seed and many other options to 'properly' care for one's lawn. However, for me it is more about living in harmony with nature; I don't feel the urge to have to control nature. I understand I have a civic duty to care for more public areas of my property, and I uphold those duties. But the rest of the yard is free, for the most part!
And perhaps I am misguided, uninformed or merely stuck in a phase. However, there have been over twenty different wild flowers bloom in our yard at various times of the year; at least six types of grass; a baker's dozen types of ferns; lilies, lilacs, goldenrod and on and on. All in just half an acre!
Now do you see why I love to let things just be, for the most part? Another season is upon us; old friends have begun to bloom, and new friends will surely surprise us!
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