Grass Lawns Are So 20th Century

30656761_1748998031812428_1021069345809235968_nI had grass lawns surrounding every house I have owned through the years; they really are, or at least were, a part of the paradigm for homebuilding, at least here in the U.S. and Europe.

Yet I agree with the author of the meme here, and don’t think I would go that route if I had it to do over.  Below are some examples of better ideas; I especially admire the edible lawn.Article12_Header Thymus-serphyllum-Lankford-Associates-e1431640311862 edibleyards

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One comment on “Grass Lawns Are So 20th Century
  1. marcopolo says:

    Craig,

    Lawns were originally just the ‘home’ pasture. They came to symbolize peace and stability (as opposed to the unhealthy crowded tenements.

    Like America, the Aussie suburban lawn needed to be a hardy, but attractive open space where growing families could pursue healthy out door sport or hold social gatherings. Lawns replicated in miniature the great formal arks of the city.

    A lawn represented peace, property, respectability for the new growing middle class home on it’s ubiquitous quarter acre. To many (especially migrants)it was the symbol of prosperity and security, of having made the arduous journey from the city to the leafy new suburbs.

    The native garden in the illustrations look very low maintenance and attractive, but where can children run about, roll on the grass, play games in safety, hold birthday parties, keep pet dogs etc.?

    Where that stretch of lawn to come home to,a neat and orderly haven of green in a hectic world ?

    We know each other in our dead end street
    And hardly any strangers come down here.
    On Saturdays we mow the lawn; our neat
    and tidy yards create an atmosphere
    of calm and harmony in our houses.

    We’re good friends and neighbours, but what goes on
    here is everybody’s business. We’re wary
    of newcomers in this street. What grows on
    our fences isn’t gossip but thyme and rosemary,
    and happy families in our houses.

    We worried when poor old Harry got sick
    and died. His only son, we thought, would not
    maintain his home. He leased it pretty quick.
    e felt so sad when removalists brought
    their van and tramped on Harry’s garden.

    Unwatered, Harry’s precious plants all died.
    His garden ornaments tossed into the bin.

    His son just didn’t care, he had no pride.
    We watched as foreign students moved in.
    Their rusty cars camped on Harry’s garden.
    Once we knew one other in our street.

    Now strangers live amongst us and we hear
    their noisy parties, their music’s odd beat.
    Our anger seethes. Gone is the atmosphere
    of calm and harmony in our houses.

    Shall we move further out ?