The practice of mowing grass has its benefits: it reduces tick habitats and makes it hard for things that could bite people to get their 5 seconds of fame on social media.

The practice of raking up leaves in the Fall, in my opinion, has no benefit except makes it easier for grass to come back next year. The soil gets robbed of the nutrition it would normally get from microlife partying under the leaves, and eventually soil levels fall. And butterflies have to look elsewhere to develop.

In Frederick, under the soil, there is a lot of clay. And after it rains, ducks finally get to enjoy the park the way they love to.

It is fun to watch the ducks exploring these new (temporary?) habitats.