ICYMl: Austin Projected As Avid Participant In 'World Naked Gardening Day' On Saturday

AUSTIN, TX — World Naked Gardening Day is occurring this weekend, and Austin has emerged as a top practitioner of the observance in a national poll. What this means, of course, is that one will have plenty of opportunity to either avert one's gaze or ogle in known areas in which vegetation is tended to, all depending on one's visceral reaction to the sight of public nudity.

Austin-based Lawnstarter.com has ranked the top 15 cities in the U.S. for World Naked Gardening Day on Saturday, and Austin has taken the 7th-ranked spot in terms of projected participation. In laying bare their methodology, researchers took into account various factors in compiling the list, largely centered on weather factors—high temperatures, humidity, cloudiness, wind speed and the like—that could impact participation.

Once factored in, researchers fleshed out their findings in a serious, if somewhat cheeky, manner.

Texas is well represented on the flabulous list, with four cities in the Lone Star State among the areas where robust au naturel landscaping is most expected. The Lawnstarter people unveiled their list as follows:

• Houston, TX
• Dallas/Fort Worth TX
• Baton Rouge, LA
• Omaha, NE
• Tulsa, OK
• Oklahoma City OK
• Austin, TX
• Springfield, MO
• McAllen, TX
• Little Rock, AR
• Wichita, KS
• San Antonio, TX
• Kansas City, MO
• Minneapolis, MN
• Des Moines, IA

Americans not averse to partaking in activities in the buff have been enthusiastically observing World Naked Gardening Day since the unofficial holiday was launched in 2005. The observance began as an offshoot of Body Freedom Collaborative, which promotes the acceptance of non-sexual nudity toward espousing a positive body image.

See related story: World Naked Gardening Day: Houston Sprouts As Top Naked Gardening Spot In 2017

Needless to say, the unclothed vegetation frolicking is intended to be done in one's private garden rather than in a public botanical garden or—gasp!—any number of bluebonnet patches that are considered all but sacred grounds by Texans descending upon the quintessentially Texas flora to take snapshots with their families.

Would-be participants might want to take precautions in their naked zeal in making allowances for perils inherent to gardening: Fire ants, mosquitoes, poison ivy, spiders and even snakes (the latter not a euphemism for anything, as snakes have begun to emerge amid milder weather).

And if your botanical taste centers on cacti, well, you're on your own. Garden nude at your own peril.

This Austin-based correspondent enjoys tending to his own plant collection, deriving great joy and achieving relaxation in the routine. Plants of many varieties are represented, including plants that hang well from shepherd's hooks.

Click the World Naked Gardening Day link for naked gardening events in your area.

Image: Pixabay