The green green grass of home

As I've mentioned before, they like their lawns in this part of the world.  That's no problem for me: I'm fond of an expanse of turf myself.  With the onset of spring the lawn in our back yard has erupted into a colourful display.  Apart from the rich green, of course, there are a lot of weeds that make for a picturesque effect.  Lots of dandelions.  Lots. And quite a few different little purplish things that are rather pretty.  Now back in New Zealand I'd generally view dandelions and other weeds with disdain, but here the general effect is very like a meadow, with a liberal application of wild flowers.

I'm not the only one enjoying it, here's a bunny enjoying the view: lunch as far as the eye can see!

The meadow effect is helped along by the fact that there are no fences worth speaking of out there, so it's not just our back yard we look on to but the back yards of at least a dozen neighbours on our block.  There's at least an acre of meadow out there looking picturesque.  Or at least there was until the mowing started.  They do like a lawn here but preferably a neatly trimmed one.  Mrs Walles agrees that the view has been very pretty, but I suspect our view is a minority one and the others - quite understandably - prefer their lawn shaved neatly into submission.

It's interesting to watch the mowing spread.  One person decides enough is enough and mows their patch, then a sense of guilt compels everyone else to follow suit in short order.  Unless, like us, you can't get your mower to work.  We borrowed the neighbour's yesterday to mow the little patch out the front (I do have some standards) after ours refused to budge.  I've exhausted my limited knowledge of small engine repair, and it's going to take a few days for the professionals to fix it.

So at least one little block of untamed nature gets a reprieve - at least until next week.  I think I can be patient.