Late summer in Buchanan, the Tallapoosa runs low and the evening light comes in slow and gold over the bottomland. Epling's Lawn Mower keeps lawns cut straight through it — the long stretch of July when grass grows faster than anyone can watch it, and the first cool week of fall when it finally eases off. The work is mowing, string trimming down the ditch banks and fence lines, a crisp edge along the walk, and every last blade cleared off the porch steps and the pavement. When October arrives and the hardwoods let go all at once, the leaves get raked and hauled away so the turf can breathe on into winter. Cicadas, cut grass, a mower cooling in the shade: the yard looks like somebody cared about it, because somebody did.