March is not pretty here. The snow goes off in dirty ribbons, Gill Creek runs high and brown, and every yard in Niagara surfaces from under the drifts holding a whole winter's worth of sticks, matted leaves and whatever the wind carried in. Niagara Yard Cleanup exists for exactly that week, raking out the flattened corners, clearing storm debris off the turf, and hauling the entire pile away so the grass can find the light again. The same work runs in reverse come November, with mowing through the green months in between. There is nothing subtle about any of it, only the enormous relief of stepping out the back door onto a yard that is open and empty and ready.