I borrowed a leaf blower from a friend to do some cleanup. Using it is several times faster than hand methods as well as being far easier and doing better work. I've always avoided them due to their irritating noise and image of frivolous, unnatural tidiness. But the fact is that leaves smother growing plants as well as altering soil chemistry to the detriment of plants . . . except for trees and a few adapted weeds.

If you want anything else then they need to be cleaned up. Since my home is in an oak grove it's a problem. The trees put on too many leaves in the spring and then drop the excess as the season progresses. A late rain storm with wind results in leaf fall comparable to autumn, even though most of the oaks are live oaks that are, more or less, evergreen.

An article I read the other day came to mind as I worked. I had more horsepower strapped on my back than warriors of old riding real horses had between their legs. I tried to imagine how horse flesh could be used to do the same job and decided that it couldn't, no matter how many of them that I might put to the task. As my mind wandered - a common occurences while I do repetitive physical labor - I hadn't noticed at first that among the debris blown before my mechanical gale was a young rattlesnake, tumbling like a stick but with less rigidity and an occasional escape attempt.

Cool. I knew the snakes were out of their ground nests since I'd seen road kill, but this was my first yard snake of the year: a baby too young to rattle yet, and give useful warning, but still potentially deadly. They always show up about the time that I get the urge to run around naked in the warm air, but settle for shorts and sandals out of habit I suppose. Bare feet and legs can be a problem in snake country. Using a leaf blower to scoot them into the ravine where they have my blessing to consume all the mice and gophers they desire is a clever hack. It's easier on the snake than alternative methods, and less dangerous for me as well.

I'll miss the tool when it goes back home, though I won't miss the noise.