In Praise of Khaki Grass

A Southern Tradition Under Threat

"I gotta pull up my hoodie," my tiny great-nephew said as we wrestled on the grass this week.

"Don't pull up your hoodie; Imma take some pictures – the hood hides your face," I told him after I pinned him to the warm, khaki grass. I need photos of us having fun on brown grass. Khaki grass is in danger due to a growing, annoying threat. 

He doesn’t understand any of this. In his dark eyes can see some worry, he hesitates, then says, "But, I'll mess up my hair."

He's 3. Where did he get that hair-awareness? He certainly does have beautiful dark curls, and for sure, bits of beige leaves will get caught in it. I countered by saying, "That'll be like a badge of honor. Everyone will see leaves in your hair and know you were wrestling in the grass and having a good time outside."

He squirmed out, turned me on my side and sat on me. I played trapped. All I could see was that sunshine-kissed expanse and a dog stretched out absorbing the winter sun. I pulled out my camera. 

Just like that, he was bored with wrestling, jumped up and grabbed a thick black hose that I should have put away months ago. New game; same grass.

This grass made our whole, relaxed afternoon playtime pleasant, while it made the dogs nap soundly. It’s just zoysia, some centiped, and a lot of weeds. What could be more important, more indicative of a sunny winter day in the South, than a sun-soaked, radiating, toasty carpet of khaki grass?

Sadly, khaki grass is under threat, and not only from the anti-lawn, grass-shaming bullies. I know they mean well, but they don't know the history of environmentally friendly, diverse yards in the South. (If you don't either, here's a link.) Southern-style winter lawns and dormant and resting khaki yards are under threat from the pretentious, golf-course-inspired trend of overseeding with ryegrass.