One of my favorite smells is that of a freshly mowed lawn. It’s an earthy, uncomplicated smell – so very good! I replaced my lawn with sod six years ago when it became overrun with weeds. 
It’s still in very good shape, mowed once a week. It’s watered three times per week, using an automatic sprinkler system, but during the autumn and winter seasons, I reduce the amount of time the lawn is watered, saving water resources and money. The grass also grows more slowly during these seasons, so less water does not hurt my lawn during this time of the year.
In the background is a robust shrub, Mexican orange, also known as Choisya ternata. In my previous post, I mentioned how shrubs are foundational elements in a garden. Lawns are also foundational, a core element in the overall landscape. I look at lawn and shrubs like elements of a room in a house: they’re like the large, main pieces of furniture. Once these are in place, it’s a relatively simpler matter of putting in accessory pieces, such as annuals (akin to an elegant throw or end table!).
To me, the lawn looks like a lush carpet, and it’s a simple but wonderful sight for sore eyes after a long day of work. Since I was very young, a lawn has always represented “home” to me. I am very happy and blessed to have a home, with a lovely lawn!
Filed under: Gardening | Tagged: Choisya ternata, Gardening, grass, lawn, lawn maintenance, Mexican orange, shrubs, sod
