Nothing but flowers. And a number of weeds.

How'd that pansy get there?

 I’ve surrendered to the dandelions this year. Same with the sundry other unidentified weeds that make up most of my front yard. They’re all God’s flora, right? I’ve wasted too much time and money trying to stand in their way. Grow free, my pretties! It’s your lawn now and I can’t wait to see what you do with it.

Actually that’s pretty evident already. The thing about dandelions; you mow them down and those coppery stalks immediately rise again like charmed cobras, pushing their fluffy globes aloft. It's like they're sentient and have figured out how to duck the blade. 

I’m not sure of the botanical processes at work here. My strategy now is to feign stoicism and convince myself that this is nature’s way. 

I doubt the neighbors agree. Everyone else in the ’hood pays a lawn service to come once a week. I cut my grass less often than they do, so the property lines become sharply delineated as the week wears on. It’s right there, where my forest of dandelions and black medick gives way to the lush and level plain of bluegrass. 

The upside, I guess, is (a) fabulous savings on lawn care and harmful chemicals, and (b) some volunteer pansies that have somehow taken root just north of the porch. In past years I’ve just mowed over them; now I carefully skirt the delicate little flowers and otherwise behave around them in a non-threatening manner. 

One thing I’ve noticed this spring: quite a few more native birds and bees milling around. House finches, northern flickers, robins, and of course the quarreling crows. If they don’t mind the weeds, I guess I don’t either. 

This is a dumb little post, but here's a musical coda from The Talking Heads. One of my favorite songs.