The joy of a well manicured lawn/garden is an interesting one. After too long a period of neglect, I took a couple of hours to mow and trim the grass, and also to trim up some bushes, take care of our fruit trees, and pull some weeds. The happiness that comes from such a simple task goes way farther than just keeping your house looking nice in the scrutiny of your neighbors. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it comes from some kind of domination of nature or of bringing order to chaos, but there joy in tending to the earth and to making beautiful a small patch of land that is in one's care. It becomes for me a small moment of meditation on the connection between myself and other living things; on my responsibility as a steward of the planet; on my abilities as a parent to care for my kids. Strange, perhaps, but I can't deny the feelings of peace and joy, however simple, that it gives me.