lawns
So...we're very close to buying a house. Will probably submit an offer next week....and all through the house hunt I've been thinking about landscaping/ponds/lawns/gardens.
I've long said that I hate lawns and couldn't wait to buy a house so I could rip the lawn out. But recently I've been reading about other Floridians growing Zoysia instead of evil, evil, water-wasting, pesticide-sucking, ugly, scratchy, worthless St. Augustine grass (blech!) --except that zoysia supposedly needs to be cut closer to the ground than your typical gas mower can handle...
So then I began toying with this idea of putting in zoysia but ditching the obligatory-gas-driven-rotary-mower (or lawn service) in favor of greener and more enjoyable alternatives. I really think I could handle reel mowing a small, short, zoyzia lawn of a couple hundred square feet...and it would make such a nice, soft hammock+bare foot zone. :D ...right next the cool koi pond...and soothing waterfall...and fragant jasmine vines...and shady fig trees....and gentle wisteria blossoms...ah...
--but then after starting to do some preliminary shopping for reel-mowers, I found out about an even more retro method of lawn maintenance! So, naturally, I'll have to go with this tradition instead. Right after I master the arts of mead-brewing, vinyard-growing, leather-tanning, falconry, and spear-hunting wild boar. Updates to follow.
I've long said that I hate lawns and couldn't wait to buy a house so I could rip the lawn out. But recently I've been reading about other Floridians growing Zoysia instead of evil, evil, water-wasting, pesticide-sucking, ugly, scratchy, worthless St. Augustine grass (blech!) --except that zoysia supposedly needs to be cut closer to the ground than your typical gas mower can handle...
So then I began toying with this idea of putting in zoysia but ditching the obligatory-gas-driven-rotary-mower (or lawn service) in favor of greener and more enjoyable alternatives. I really think I could handle reel mowing a small, short, zoyzia lawn of a couple hundred square feet...and it would make such a nice, soft hammock+bare foot zone. :D ...right next the cool koi pond...and soothing waterfall...and fragant jasmine vines...and shady fig trees....and gentle wisteria blossoms...ah...
--but then after starting to do some preliminary shopping for reel-mowers, I found out about an even more retro method of lawn maintenance! So, naturally, I'll have to go with this tradition instead. Right after I master the arts of mead-brewing, vinyard-growing, leather-tanning, falconry, and spear-hunting wild boar. Updates to follow.