It is often easy to tell someone’s view of life when observing landscape designs, which have trends just like cars and shoes. The was the great Red Tip planting of the 1980s, followed by the Kwansan Cherries and Bradford pears of the 1990’s (replacing Larkspur and Cleomes).  The nineties brought us perfectly manicured settings, few flowers, and shrubs pruned to perfect geometric shapes (no where near matching their natural forms). The few flowers present are neatly lined up and corralled in pots and planters.  Perfect edging dominates the look, with even more perfect wood chip mulch, with just the right amount of "studied casualness" designed to be pleasing to the eye. Perennials?  Nah.  These are yanked up like annuals with the changing seasons. Shrubs are removed as their colors are no longer in fashion.  Nothing emotional is invested. 

Even more sadly, suburban lawns developed from the 1980s on tend to have few trees, even if the property owner has a vast expanse of land at his/her disposal. The few trees present often are of the small, ornamental variety. None with the potential to grow large, old and majestic.

Is nature is something to be subdued? It is almost as if war has been declared and nature is the enemy.  If these yards and parks had soundtracks, they would sound like elevator music, or the latest pop ballad. 

Adapted from "My Garden" by Najida D'anna.