My answer to your initial question, at least as it pertains to front lawns, is that in America we afford drive-by shooters a sporting chance.
As for backyards, I must point you to the high-ranking that barbecue has among our favorite and patriotic pastimes.
In all seriousness though, the unused real estate between dwelling structures gives a sense of autonomy and privacy and power ("look at the land I own!"). I would venture to guess that the reason we do not convert our lawns into gardens often enough is because we clasp onto that image of traditional real estate wealth, and a very practical reason: gardening takes time and skill and an attention span that we have been willing to forfeit.
My answer to your initial question, at least as it pertains to front lawns, is that in America we afford drive-by shooters a sporting chance.
As for backyards, I must point you to the high-ranking that barbecue has among our favorite and patriotic pastimes.
In all seriousness though, the unused real estate between dwelling structures gives a sense of autonomy and privacy and power ("look at the land I own!"). I would venture to guess that the reason we do not convert our lawns into gardens often enough is because we clasp onto that image of traditional real estate wealth, and a very practical reason: gardening takes time and skill and an attention span that we have been willing to forfeit.