Yards and Stripes

<p><strong>A Manhattan Misfit's Guide to Suburban Survival</strong></p><p>Ever wondered what would happen if you threw away a perfectly good corporate career to do something you know absolutely nothing about? Meet Michael Francis who did exactly that when he traded his New York City suit for a pair of gardening gloves and headed to the wilds of Greenwich Connecticut.</p><p>In this hilarious chronicle of suburban misadventure Michael navigates the treacherous territory of America's most manicured lawns with all the expertise of a penguin in the Sahara. From his first encounter with a rogue weed whacker to diplomatic negotiations with Nasty Mrs. Phillips (think the Queen of England but with stronger opinions about hydrangeas) each chapter brings a new lesson in how not to be a gardener.</p><p>With the sharp eye of a newcomer and the wit of a natural storyteller Michael introduces us to a cast of unforgettable characters: Mad Annie Marsh whose garden harbors more secrets than the Pentagon; the mysterious Trash Monster; and a host of other suburban personalities that could only exist in the perfectly imperfect world of high-end landscaping.</p><p>For readers who cherished Bill Bryson's bemused adventures in <em>A Walk in the Woods</em> or Peter Mayle's <em>A Year in Provence</em> <em>Yards and Stripes</em> offers a fresh fertilizer-scented take on the classic fish-out-of-water tale. It's proof that sometimes the best stories grow from the most unlikely soil.</p><p>Warning: This book contains scenes of deliberate plant murder accidental tool mastery and the shocking revelation that not all weeds wear villain costumes.</p><p><span style=color: rgba(68 70 72 1)> </span></p>