Monday, May 31, 2010

Grass, we don't need no stinkin' grass!

A glorious jumper sighting! Seen on the way back from the Mini-Ortega library branch (currently under construction, check out their construction blog under "All Things Awesome and Amazing").



The sidewalk jumper is just proof of how tenacious and resourceful San Franciscans can be. Don't have a yard, but want to throw an awesome birthday party...no problem, set that shit up on the sidewalk! It's all good.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Backyards Galore!

As promised long ago, this post will be delving into the strange and sometimes elusive creature known as the San Francisco backyard. Given the fact that I live in the Sunset, backyards in my neighborhood are not that rare. However, they are definitely a different beast than the backyards I grew up with in the Midwest. In small town Kansas where I was born and raised, backyards were expansive and green. A blessing in the all the recreation they allowed for, but a curse in the work they required to maintain. In the city, the backyard is not a given. It is a luxury this densely packed area does not give up lightly or cheaply. With more and more condos being built, it is an amenity that many will simply live without. Being lucky enough to have access to a shared backyard, I relish sunny weekends like this one. Weekends where going to the beach or the park would be awesome, but for some reason you don't even want to leave your own backyard because it is just that perfect.

So you might ask, what is so special/weird about San Francisco backyards? First off, they rarely involve grass. You don't see many yards that are just grass fence to fence. I'm sure this has a lot to do with the soil out here being mostly sand and not very conducive to growing grass. They usually involve a lot of concrete or brick, something to keep maintenance to a minimum and to create a nice are for hanging out. For those that have the time and/or money, they are often meticulously landscaped. Sometimes they are just a strange conglomeration of whatever will grow and storage sheds. I think our neighbor's yard falls under this last category.



You can also see just how carefully the land here is parceled out. With houses so close together and yards so small, you definitely want to make sure everyone gets their fair share. Every time I look out and see all the adjoining fences it just makes me think of some crazy jigsaw puzzle or tetris game.

When it comes to our yard, it definitely has a life of it's own. There are parts that have been carefully cultivated and other areas that have just been allowed to grow as they choose. Of course there is the designated lounging area to enjoy our chunk of California sunshine.


Next door on the other side is cat heaven. This shady yard with just the right mix of plants, grass, and concrete is a favorite of the neighborhood cats. They can often be seen soaking up some rays and being lazy back there.



This is just a small snapshot of the diverse backyards that exist here in the city, a subject that is of great interest to me. When space comes at a premium how exactly do people choose to use it?
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