Even as she writes, UD is watching multiple Priuses, BMWs, and pickups gather across the street from her Garrett Park house. An important civic ceremony is about to be held there. If UD knew how to take pictures, she’d take pictures of it.

But, you know. Use your imagination. Glamorously redone farmish house in one of the richest counties in the richest state in the country. Pleasantly cool wet weather. Modest news media presence. Spectacular spring blossoms everywhere. Insane colorful lushness.

UD knew about this event because her sister, Morrissey fanatic and MOOC-producer, works for the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, and told her about it.

Twenty people in trench coats are smiling and shaking each others’ hands while standing atop a semi-permeable driveway. County Executive Ike Leggett, elegant in a really good suit, stands in the middle of this semi-circle getting ready to say a few words.

About what? What’s the deal?

Well, the county is announcing a new program that financially compensates citizens who put in water gardens, semi-permeable driveways and God know what else along the lines of eco-mindedness. They’ve chosen UD‘s neighbor’s place for the announcement, which makes sense because she’s definitely put in all of that plus one of those absolutely no lawn (contrast to this UD‘s dandelion-rich expanse) cottage gardens.

Man – ANOTHER Prius. Wow.

Is the thousand dollar check or whatever my neighbor’s about to get a nice thing?

I guess so…. I mean… How to say this… We Rokeby Avenue folk are not exactly hurting financially; and my neighbor’s garden easily represents tens of thousands of dollars of expense… “Maybe they should target the program a little differently,” suggests Mr UD…

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Ike is about to climb them well-worn stairs (that’s George, to Martha, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf) and say a few words of thanks to my neighbor for allowing the event to take place at her place (as if the rest of us wouldn’t jump at the chance for this sort of attention… Over here over here! Look what I’ve done with my pachysandra! Sure she’s done this English rural thingie and it’s all environmentally correct blah blah but I’ve got a well-established Japanese garden over here without all those garish colors… A study in greens and textures over here! Maybe you can’t appreciate it because it’s quiet, subtle, tranquil, Japanese tea room kind of thing… Contemplative stroll garden over here!!… No one’s listening…).