People who know me know I have strong opinions about lawns. Mostly not positive ones. Lawn lovers, don’t come after me.

But lawns have become a tradition of Americana, including in places where they make little sense…as well as places where they make fantastic sense. HOAs demand them. Water conservationists often abhor them.

When did humans start growing neat patches of grass? Why? What exactly is with these lawns…and our obsession with them.