Ahead of the Grass

About Ahead of the Grass

Fog lifts off Lake Weir before the first mower turns over, and by the time it burns clear the bahia in Weirsdale has already decided to grow another inch. Ahead of the Grass keeps pace with it, mowing, edging and trimming yards set among the pasture fences and live oaks of southern Marion County. Summer here works in bursts: a thunderhead builds in the afternoon, an inch of rain falls, and the lawns answer overnight. The pleasure is in getting there first, in a hard line where turf meets the drive and walks blown bare afterward. Through the mild, sandy stretch of winter the pace eases off, and the yards still look like somebody is paying attention.