April in Ellijay comes on as pink and white smoke through the woods — redbud first, then dogwood, and then it is time to mow. JC Landscapers makes that opening pass of the year, when the grass is thick and uneven and the yard has forgotten what a straight edge looks like. From there it is a season of mowing, trimming and edging that runs until the leaves come down. Walks cleared, gates closed, clippings gone. The first cut is the best one to look at, but the fortieth is what actually keeps a lawn.