Botanizing

As I was reading the section in Borderlands about botanizing, I couldn't help but see similarities in today's current suburban trends when it comes to landscaping and gardening. First, stereotypically it is still the woman's job to keep up with the planting of new flowers and plants. Advertisements only bolster this view, as it is usually the image of a woman on her hands and knees digging in the flower bed with a smile on her face that we see in print ads and TV commercials. Our image of a man's role involves more "demanding" tasks like mowing, raking, edging, etc. You rarely see a woman performing these duties or a man planting flowers when you see images of suburbia in print media, television and the movies. If there are images of both a man and a woman outside doing yard work, you see them more often than not in their stereotypical roles. Just as in the 19th century, gardening is a woman's task.

Another similarity I noticed was the importance of the garden itself to modern suburban homes. An un-manicured lawn is looked down upon. It is seen as tacky. So, most suburban homes have neatly mowed lawns, weed-free flower beds, ornamental shrubs, etc. to make the most aesthetically appealing garden they can. Most subdivisions have covenants with different rules and regulations of how a lawn should be kept and what can and can't be planted. The neighborhoods have to look nice and uniform. Landscaping and yard care businesses flourish in the suburbs so that people's lawns can have the manicured look desired by the community. This includes landscaping in apartment and business complexes. Gardens bring natural beauty to people's homes and businesses.

It also struck me that gardening was once thought of as relaxing and a way to relieve stress just as it is today. Many people will tell you that the reason they enjoy gardening is because it helps them unwind. It isn't seen as a chore to most people, but almost instead as a recreational activity, just as it was considered excercise and enjoyment for 19th century women.