Houston, Texas is the most populous city in the south. It has been nicknamed Space City because of its importance to NASA. It is also one of the most diverse cities in America and is home to speakers of almost 150 different languages. It is also home to one of the largest rodeos in the entire world. It was here that the Astrodome, the world's first stadium with the dome, was built. Houston could be called one of the most important cities in Texas. However, Houston has changed a great deal since it's tough beginnings.
In 1836, Texas was founded as a republic rather than a state. It was that same year that Houston was first established. In four months, Houston grew from a little more than ten people to about 1500. Houston was the first capital of Texas while it was still a republic. However, Houston suffered from an acute moral problem. Drunkenness and gambling were all too commonplace. It wasn't until 1846 that Texas was annexed into the Union. By 1850, there were close to 2500 people in Houston. Almost 50 percent of the population were slaves.
In 1861 after the election of President Lincoln, Houston voted to secede from the Union. Texas was one of the first states to secede. When the Civil War officially broke out, around 25,000 Texans immediately joined the Confederate forces. Throughout the war, many more served as soldiers.
Texas virtually fell apart at the end of the war, and Houston suffered alongside the other cities. There was both economic deprivation and constant feuding as a result of the hard feelings from the war. The Reconstruction period was a time when people in Texas lost all of their civil rights because they had left the Union. Reconstruction was not successful for Texas until 1870 when it returned to the Union to stay.
With its inclusion in the Union, Houston regained some of its prosperity. Its population in 1870 was over 9000. A thriving lumber industry began, hospitals were built, and the Port of Houston was constructed. Houston was back!
World War I and II brought the shipping industry to Texas. The economy of the city was primarily dependent on its port. In 1962, NASA came to the city. From that point on, the city was an odd mixture of the old and the new. There were still rodeos in the same city as NASA was setting up its Manned Spacecraft Center, now called the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Part of this center is the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center. This center is still important to the manned spaceflight of the United States. The old and the new are part of what makes this city so unique. The modernization of Houston has not destroyed its heritage.
One aspect of the new is the sports that Houston so enjoys. Houston is home to the Houston Astros, which is a major league baseball team. It is also home to Houston Dash and Houston Dynamo, which are soccer teams. Basketball and rugby are also played in Houston. The Astrodome opened in 1965. It was initially named the Harris County Domed Stadium, and the dome was so magnificent that the stadium became called the "Eighth Wonder of the World." It is a primary landmark in Houston now, but it is only one of many.
Another landmark in Houston is its Sculpture Park. If you do happen to come here for a visit, you must not miss this unique, fascinating park. It is filled with sculptures of various animals and other things, including a gigantic armadillo and a huge bird. These large structures dwarf humans.
Houston also has monuments and memorials, including the Bear Creek War Monument and the Police Officers' Memorial. The latter was made to commemorate fallen Houston police officers so that the sacrifices they made would not be forgotten.
One feature of the memorial and various other areas in Houston that is undoubtedly an aspect of its modernization rather than its old-fashioned qualities is the greenery that now characterizes the city. For instance, there are many parks, such as Buffalo Bayou Park and Memorial Park. The Houston Parks Board has been working to further the care of city parks, such as mowing and fertilization.
The efforts of Houston to go green have been aided by the planting of private lawns in the city. Similar to the city parks, it is vital that these lawns be well cared for so that they are an enhancement to the beauty of this historic area rather than a blight.
Some things that you can do to make sure that this is so are to mow, fertilize and aerate your lawn regularly. You can research what types of grass will work best for your area and remain green for the better part of each year.
Many kinds of grass have specific mowing heights that work best for them. It is important not to 'scalp' your grass. This means to cut it too short so that it stresses the grass. It can stunt the growth of a lawn or kill it outright. For instance, Bermuda grass, which is one of the more common grasses in Houston, should be mowed at a height of one to two inches. St. Augustine, another common grass in the area, should be two and a half to four inches in height. The final common type, which is Zoysia grass, should be from one and a half to three inches high after mowing.
It is easy to mow a lawn incorrectly, and it is hard to take the time to research and do. However, Lawn Love has made it easy. Here at Lawn Love, we offer professional mowing services at your convenience. Mowing a lawn is something that has to be done every one to two weeks, and it can involve many hours of intensive labor, so why not outsource your work to us? Call or get a free quote online and schedule your mowing services today to help Houston get green.
