My Neighbor’s Lawn

This year has been a dry year for lawns. In fact, the only parts of my lawn which are not brown are those covered in clover, crabgrass, and dandelions. So, a decent amount. We are under drought restrictions and so there isn’t much watering going on anywhere.

Experts and Amateurs

My husband and I were chatting about this fact sinse we were having people over and we were sad that the backyard would not be as inviting as it had in the past. But, as we sat chatting, he noted my neighbor’s lawn. Had I seen it? He asked. I hadn’t really been paying attention, but then I went and took a look. It was covered in large brown and yellow spots of dead grass and dirt patches mixed in with the green. I was surprised. Their lawn is always magnificent.  I suppose we didn’t feel as bad about the state of our lawn after that because if they couldn’t get their grass to grow with landscapers and their careful management, it made sense that ours was splotchy too.

A New Perspective

A day or two later, a different neighbor and I were chatting. I don’t even remember what about, but something prompted me to respond that our neighbor’s yard was always amazing until this year. The stunned look of, “You didn’t know?” Flashed across her face and she told me that their yard was always bad – the grass died every year in huge pockets but that they always bought sod to keep it looking nice. I’d had no idea. I thought they just were amazing gardeners and groundskeepers.

What The Sod?

It got me thinking. It was a very social media moment. The picture I had in my mind of this perfect lawn didn’t show the struggle, didn’t paint the full picture. I’d been comparing my lawn to something that wasn’t actually raised in this environment. How often had I compared the grassy areas of my life to someone else’s imported sod?

Working With What I Have

I’d never been a successful gardener until I began planting a little garden in honor of my Mom a few years back. The plot is rocky and not particularly hospitable, but I’ve made it work. The grass, I don’t worry about that often other than to try to seed the bare patches. I don’t mind the weeds and I love dandelions. People don’t like to show the struggle – maybe it makes them vulnerable or makes them feel bad for having had to struggle to begin with. But when you only show the finished product you miss out on empowering others. Struggle humanizes you. Showing the struggle shows people  that maybe they too can get to where you are. Working with what I have doesn’t make me less than – it’s what everybody does – even if they don’t show it.