break the plane

The most important thing one can do with a traditional American front yard is to cut into the grass. Break the plane.

Our eyes find breaks, framed view, curved or lined paths, and obstructions a lot more interesting than we do the grassy vistas that we are hard-wired to accept as a virtue.

Look at many American yards. First rule is that you often cannot tell where one yard stops and the other starts. No boundaries. We live in a democratic park, sort of an American revision of the 18th century British parks that were only reserved for the wealthy.