Gardens in Fenton come awake in a rush around the second week of May — lilacs first, then everything else at once. Nickerson Lawn & Garden works both halves of a yard, the mowing and trimming and edging as well as the beds that need clearing and keeping honest all summer. Warm rain on heavy clay makes for lawns that grow faster than anyone expects, so the visits stay regular rather than occasional. Autumn brings the cleanup, and after that the work moves out into the cold: plowing the drive, shoveling the path to the mailbox, salting the steps. A yard that looks intentional in June and walkable in January is the entire ambition.