E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Version

By Adrian Higgins
Thursday, June 15, 2000; Page H10

Artists find beauty by looking for it. Photographer Howard Bjornson has discovered beguiling, otherworldly forms in the weed patch. His new book, "Weeds" (Chronicle Books, $19.95), presents a gallery of common pesky plants, portraits captured in his Chicago studio. After seeing them through Bjornson's eye, we may still yank them out of our gardens, but with less force. And as the abundant seed pods of pokeweed, shepherd's purse and buttonbush attest, they will be back.

Who does the most yard work in your household? Whoever is asked, it seems. Sears, Roebuck and Co. polled more than 700 families in April to ask about gardening. Half the respondents said they did most of the lawn and garden work. Only a quarter said it was another adult in the household.

And speaking of surveys, Washington Consumers' Checkbook magazine has rated 56 local lawn care firms and says price doesn't always equate with satisfaction. Researchers had two sample lawns and asked what an annual program would cost. For the first, the prices ranged from $246 to $895; for the second, they were between $234 and $970. Customers then were polled. "Significantly, some of the firms that offered the lowest prices also rated high for quality," the magazine says.

A major reason for the price difference was for core aeration and overseeding: some firms thought the lawns needed it, others didn't.

The June issue of Checkbook magazine is on newsstands or available for $8.45 by calling 202-347-7283.

Previous Article          Back to the top         Next Article