Recently my daughter and granddaughter made a trip to California for a tennis tournament. While there they toured around a bit looking at different neighborhoods.
On one leg, around the city where they were staying, they ran into this extraordinary event. At least extraordinary to them. They sat in their car in amazement as a man painted his grass green -- yes with green paint. He wasn't painting fake turf he was painting droughty brown grass.
My granddaughter thought this incident was worth taking some pictures of so she jumped out of their car and started snapping her Iphone. The photo above is the small go-cart kind of truck with a white plastic tank behind it that had a tube leading to the man's sprayer.
Her second photo was the sign that the man placed on the grass as seen above. It reads, "Caution wet paint". Then she sent the images off to me via her Iphone
Although she did not get a photo of the actual spraying I found a YouTube demonstrating how they spray. Now some of you might know all about this technique?
I found this practice unreal.
Check out this minute long YouTube -- it is beyond words.
Check out this minute long YouTube -- it is beyond words.
Unreal! Are people so removed from nature that they cannot accept that grass goes brown for lack of water? In some places in California water is rationed -- rightly so. Too many people, too many demands for water. Do appearances mean THAT much? obviously to that guy. Does he have a life?
ReplyDeleteJune -- This is truly an example of the lengths that people will go to of having green grass. To me it would seem like disney land. I guess to some folks appearances do mean that much. thanks for the comment -- barbara
DeleteI find this practice silly!
ReplyDeleteMichelle -- I wonder how what it costs and if the soil is ruined over time? thanks for the comment -- barbara
DeleteThat it totally bizarre!
ReplyDeleteBirdie -- Yep, I agree! -- thanks for the comment -- barbara
DeleteThat's a first for me....what will people think of next? :)
ReplyDeleteDee -- Let us hope the idea does not spread -- thanks for the comment -- barbara
DeleteThey're certainly different in California...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you find this green paint technique only in California?? -- thanks -- barbara
DeleteBeing from California originally I don't find this all that unusual. Green lawns are pretty and most parts of the country have green lawns because they get so much rain, or they have plenty of water that they feel free to water their lawns. Even though I now live in Washington I still cringe when I see a sprinkler going on a lawn, after all, we have lots of rain here.
ReplyDeleteI think it is responsible for people in California to paint their lawns, rather than waste what little water there is on a green lawn. Water has to be piped into California and there is a lot of waste - all those swimming pools for example, but they say watering lawns uses as much water as a pool, so it is good to not use anymore than is being used. And then people in California can have their pretty lawns like others, without being wasteful. A lot of California gets less than 2" of rain a year - especially in S. CA - which is where they are painting their lawns. The area is a desert. After all, everyone loves a green lawn. Loved the tv report. Thanks for sharing.
JoAnn -- California is a beautiful state. My daughter and family lived there for about five years. They lived in Redlands that I found a charming town -- not to far from L.A. Myself, I found northern California the best part. I have visited Washington a few times and thought it was vibrant. Aren't we lucky to have so many wonderful places in our country. -- barbara
DeleteAnd so the American obsession with perfect green lawns appears to have been taken to a new and absurd level.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I like the idea of not wasting lots of water by watering to keep grass green in an arid climate, and I was glad to hear the paint is plant-based with zero VOC's. And I also understand that no bank is going to spring for permaculture or xeriscape landscaping on a foreclosure - but THAT is what I want to see become popular, not green paint! And do realtors and potential buyers not realize that the landscaping on a foreclosed house is likely to have been neglected and be willing to take care of that themselves as part of the bargain? Also, how can they possibly guarantee the paint will last 6 months? The grass will grow plenty in that time, and it'll look like a bad hair dye job.
Oh, the vanity and absurdity of our species. It knows no bounds.
Laloofah -- You present valid discussion points on the subject of painted grass. I figured there would be points made on each side. I was aghast when my granddaughter sent the image to me. She, who is only 15, and her mother both felt it was absurd. As you are, so am I -- a naturalist. Such actions such as painting your grass are incomprehensible to me. thanks -- barbara
ReplyDeleteHaven't these people ever heard of Astroturf? The lawn fetish is ridiculous in a place that gets so little rain.
ReplyDelete