Landscape Warrior

Man vs. Nature. Tools vs. Tendrils. Welcome to the hilarious front lines of suburban yard work.

Think home landscaping is a peaceful, zen-like hobby? Think again.

When biologist Tom Hewlett and his wife Linda built their home on an acre of North Central Florida woods, they envisioned a tranquil suburban paradise. What they got instead was an all-out, blood-soaked war against the local flora.

Meet the Landscape Warrior, a homeowner armed with chainsaws, loppers, and a legendary steel shovel named "Gran Paso," battling the sneaky, razor-sharp villains of the suburban wild. From the treacherous "Snakey Woods" crawling with spine-laden Smilax vines to the "Dolly Woods" guarded by eye-piercing palmettos, dive-bombing wasps, and coordinated fire ant ambushes, every yard project quickly devolves into an epic struggle for survival.

Packed with sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and the inescapable judgment of "The Prying Eyes of the Neighborhood," Landscape Warrior is a laugh-out-loud memoir for anyone who has ever:

• Lost a battle to a lawn mower, armadillo trap, or stubborn tree stump.

• Suffered the indignity of a public "Fire Ant Dance" in their own front yard.

• Spent a small fortune trying to keep a garden alive, only to feed the local insect horde.

• Discovered that despite their best efforts, nature always strikes back.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener, a reluctant lawn-mower, or just someone who enjoys watching suburban DIY projects go wildly off the rails, Tom Hewlett's hilarious misadventures will make you look at your backyard in a whole new light.