FADAB

Growing up, my mother always had a meticulous garden and yard. She took great pride in her work. Beautiful trees, flower beds, rock gardens, you name it. Spring, summer, and fall she was out there every spare moment tending to her garden. She’d ask me to join her and I always laughed it off because A) I didn’t like to get dirty and B) I didn’t receive any of the gardening genes (I could kill a cactus). Her responses to my disdain never wavered, she always said, “someday when you own your own home you’ll want to garden and you’ll care about how it looks.” Well, wouldn’t you know it? She’s right!

Last weekend, for the first time in 36 years, I not only turned on our push-mower but I actually mowed the lawn. Mowed the ENTIRE lawn! What’s even more interesting is that I enjoyed it! I popped Dave Mathews on the IPod, had my bee/wasp spray close at hand and off I went. Life was great. Now, I’ll be honest, it was a beautiful day out and I’m sure that if it were 95 degrees and humid I may not have enjoyed it as much. I found it to be quite gratifying to finish the lawn and it was a relaxing way to spend an hour. With careful planning around the heat, I think I could enjoy mowing the lawn (and I know Henry would be thrilled!).

The unfortunate thing is now I’m obsessed. What type of sprinklers should I buy? I need more hoses. How do I make the lawn more green and plush? How do I get rid of the crab grass? How do I make the lawn grow where there is none? How do I know what are weeds and what are flowers? When should I trim those trees? Can I plant more flowers in the flower bed? When will the Holly bushes start to bloom? How can I move those silly bushes from the middle of the back yard? And on and on and on and on. Clearly I have found a new project and I can’t wait to jump in and learn all about it.

Mom, you were right (of course!)