Anyone else just love doing yard work?

[azmouse]

I have a large yard (an acre) and I love being outside raking, bagging yard waste, trimming trees and bushes.
It seems everyone complains about yard work but I really like it. Is that crazy?

[pointblank]

1. I really dont mind it

once I get going, but its motivating myself to go out there and do it on those nice summer days that I have the problem with.

Seems my problem is I'd rather drink beer and barbecue!

[azmouse]

4. Nothing wrong with beer and bbq!

Let's see... the grill is outside in the yard so I think that would qualify as yard work!

[pointblank]

5. This is true

but I ususally have to force myself to mow the lawn, trim and clean off my deck BEFORE I start in on the beer and BBQ because it makes it much more enjoyable to relax in a nicely groomed yard!!


Ahhhhhh, I cant wait for summertime! Winter sucks once the holidays are over :-(

[x-g.o.p.er]

2. Before I owned a home, I hated it...

But now that it's MY yard, I like it a lot. I love the smell of freshly cut grass.

[azmouse]

7. I miss the smell of cut grass.

We live on the desert and are in the middle of a severe drought. We would hate to use the water just for grass so we keep hoping the drought will end soon so we can green up a small patch of the backyard. We have crushed gravel in the front of the house that only needs raking and weeding. It looks very much like the desert and uses the water responsibly.

[miss_american_pie]

3. I like weeding the garden

No one else wants to help so I get quiet time to myself to think.

My hubby takes care of the lawn, and he doesn't seem to mind it.

[eyesroll]

6. It just strikes me as wasteful -- we rip out native vegetation to plant

non-native ornamental grass (i.e. "the lawn"), throw pesticides on it and water it incessantly so it'll grow, but cut it before it goes to seed (yet re-seed bald parts with purchased seed every year). If we try to restore some native vegetation, some neighbor calls the city and tells us we're an eyesore and the city sends an inspector with a nasty gram that tells us we have to take out the native, no-pesticides-required, no-mowing required plants and put the grass back in.

Now, non-lawn yard work can be fun, can be tedious, depending on what it is and what my mood says. I like growing vegetables (which are also non-native but at least you can eat the product). I hate bagging, though -- I'll just mulch it or move it to the curb for pick-up.

[azmouse]

8. I'm in AZ and we are now encourage to use native plants.

Water conservation is becoming a big issue here because of a severe drought. I'd love some grass but can't justify it right now because of the amount of water it would need.
And cactus, at least in the front yard, just looks better here. I know what you mean about native vegetation.

[kick-ass-bob]

9. I have no lawn, what-so-ever, an d I love it.

We have about 1/2 acre and it is fully "landscaped" (more natural than anything) with nitrogen sucking mulch where the grass would have grown.

I hate mowing, and I love not having to worry about it turning brown.

:bounce::bounce:

[Richardo]

10. I'm going to PM you my address

See you this Saturday!

:hi:

[azmouse]

12. I'm easy but I'm not cheap! LOL

I'd require some of this:
and some of this:
and maybe a few of these:

[kmla]

11. Is that crazy?

Yes.

Yes, I think it is.

}(

[Strong Atheist]

13. I hate yard work. nt.

[BigMcLargehuge]

14. I enjoy it thoroughly

Each year we've increased the size and complexity of our flower gardens. Though, to be fair, last year was hard with a 3 year old and a brand new baby... This year we are planting cherry trees and great swaths of chrysanthemums.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. Yes, even weeding.

My yard's nearly the size of yours and had suffered from ten years of solid neglect, save for the water-sucking lawn areas. I'm in an inland valley and our summers are quite dry and toasty; water use is an important consideration for us too. We have a short steep slope in front of the house and it had a small patch of lawn on the level area nearest the house but otherwise it was just a giant mulch patch. The first thing we did was rip out the useless lawn and begin planting water-wise shrubs and flowers on the slope. In our larger backyard, formerly a 1/2 acre + weed-filled swath, we take back a piece of it each year. We have vegetable beds, a young citrus grove, a cactus garden, and pocket beds of native shrubs.

I take snapshots of various points in the yard each year. It's great to look back and see just how ugly it used to be, and how pretty it is becoming.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. Well, my dear Gormy Cuss........

How about a photo thread of your beautiful yard?

I'd come to see it!

:hi:

[Gormy Cuss]

19. You came come visit in person CalPeggy.

I'm not set up with photobucket or the like, but you can come by the next time you're in NorCal.
:hi:

[azmouse]

23. Our yard had been neglected by the previous occupants.

We had the weeds cleaned out and started planting citrus and nut trees. Things are shaping up nicely. Each year as the trees get bigger we get more fruit and the yard just looks neater. It's tough working in the summer heat (100+ degrees) but I get out early in the morning and enjoy the peace and quiet. I like to think I'm creating a refuge for the birds... especially the hummingbirds. Pictures are a great way to appreciate all the hard work you put into your yard.

[Gormy Cuss]

27. Bringing back the birds was one of the nice elements for us.

Even without feeders the birds have many treats in our yard. It's great to see the flowers and seeds used as intended by nature. We have a bevy of quail every winter/spring now that there are low shrubs for cover -- they are on the short list of threatened birds around here because of habitat loss and they now have about an acre of nesting ground among three adjacent yards. It's neat to see the chicks grow up.

You should be able to attract several types of hummingbirds in AZ. They don't seem to mind the desert. Wait until you experience the aerobatics of a territory dispute. It's fascinating.

I have the summer heat problem too although we're more in the 95-105 degree range and it's not constant. During heat waves it's yard work before 9 AM only.:)

[azmouse]

30. We've had hummingbirds from day one.

The minute we hung a feeder on our patio they appeared. One in particular thinks it's HIS feeder. We jokingly named him George (don't know why, it just happened!). He hangs around and sings and chases the other hummers away. They're great fun to watch. We have several females building nests in our trees too. I can't wait to see the babies!

[snacker]

17. I enjoy it too.

I think it's in my blood. My grandmother lived to be 94 and did "yard work" almost daily. She even cut her own lawn using a push-mower. She was obsessed about her yard, but I really think it was the thing that kept her going into her 90s.

[Arkansas Granny]

18. I like yardwork. I even like mowing the yard, as long as the

lawnmower starts. I don't like yanking on the pull rope if it's not going to start. Besides, I spend most of my day inside, at work. I love to get outside after work and on weekends.

[Bridget Burke]

20. I'm a renter--the landlady has the lawn mowed.

If I had my way, the lawn would GO! There are much more interesting things to plant. And planting something that requires extra work if it does well is not logical.

Native plants & well-adapted immigrants are welcome. "Winter" in Houston is time for the tender flowers that wilt in the heat: Foxgloves, Hollyhocks, Pansies & Primroses.

The Azalea Trail is the big house/garden tour that raises money for the River Oaks Garden Club. The late Ima Hogg introduced azaleas to Houston & her home, Bayou Bend, is always featured on the Trail. Currently, they're heaping ice on the azaleas--so they don't bloom too early.

[In_The_Wind]

21. I love to see the things I've been nurturing for years grow strong.

Yes, I love to work in my yard.

[Oeditpus Rex]

22. I love the feeling when I'm finished

more than the work itself, though that's also enjoyable. I love to look at the nice, neat yard — sort of reflect on it, really. It's a kind of "Wonder Years" feeling, maybe because when I was little I had a toy mower and I'd follow my dad with it as he mowed the lawn.

Anything that reminds me of when life was simpler is a good thing.

[leftofthedial]

24. on the long long list of things I HATE to do

yardwork holds down about eight of the top ten spots.

[kwassa]

25. Yes, it is crazy. Completely crazy.

You now know.

[XemaSab]

26. I love finishing it

I'm in the middle of a few projects right now that I should be out working on while it's sunny.

I am trying to rip out about 1/4 of the lawn in the front in order to plant "natives", but I sort of fell off track with rain and apathy. The thing I'm really not looking forward to is digging out all the existing roses and replanting them in the back. :P

I'm not looking forward to digging out the hydrangea either. :P

And then in the back I need to make 2 big planter beds ASAP. Which ain't today. :P

[scarlet_owl]

28. Depends on what kind of yard work it is.

I like planting and picking vegetables, but i hate mowing and raking.

[sarahinmexico]

29. It's relaxing

and I love the feeling of physical labor, it gives your mind the opportunity to wander.