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The Dirt

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 12, 2008

I live on a long, long, long street in Carrollwood. Many front lawns, many approaches to watering.

When I pass them, I can't help but compare each one to my own.

I shake my head at the over-waterers, who apparently won't be happy until there's a moat around the yard. And when I see sprinklers spraying at midday, especially on a Saturday (which isn't ANYONE's watering day), well, it's tough not to tsk.

On the other hand, I'm a lover of all things lush, so it disturbs me almost as much when I see one of those scorched-earth yards, gone so far brown I wonder if there's a fire smoldering somewhere near. I sniff ... nope ... then sniff again with disapproval. Have they no pride?

It's how I was raised. Green, for lack of a better word, was good. Green was right. Green worked.

So what does my front lawn look like? Gorgeous, if I do say so myself ... and I guess I just did. We have a big oak in front that keeps burning blades to a minimum. We keep the grass fairly long and water it with an old-fashioned sprinkler after 6 p.m. on our designated day. And that's only when it looks truly parched.

I'm following all the county restrictions, and yet, I feel we're being frivolous. Because brown is the new green, and green is the new guilt, and using any water at all on grass now seems wrong.

Judge not and all that; I imagine people shaking their heads - For shame! - when they pass my house.

I think I've struck a happy medium. But, of course, I would.

What do you think? Is it possible to be a good neighbor and a responsible global citizen? Is a green lawn acceptable if you play by the rules?

Post your comments on our blog at TBO

.com, keyword: Dirt.

Kim Franke-Folstad

Come play in The Dirt at TBO.com, keyword: Dirt. We provide all the tools.

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