I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations on lawn burning has expired by now, so I guess I can tell the story of my high school drama teacher, Ms. Cryder (rhymes with Spider).
She was un-liked.
Ms. Cryder had a mass of uncombed hair that would make Don King jealous. She had the personality of a yak with irritable-bowel syndrome. She had a red-headed kid with ponytails we called Pippi.
Halloween demanded a visit to the Cryder manse.
A typical front lawn in our town:
http://www.zug.com/pranks/halloween/halloween_prank_01.jpg
Don't try this at home. We were professionals.
Gas, poured on grass, is enough to create this effect, and adds the joy of the delayed payoff to boot. But we were pyros, so we just had to toss a match on our handiwork:
http://www.zug.com/pranks/halloween/halloween_prank_02.jpg
The next day, of course, we had to return to the scene of our crime to check out our glorious handiwork, where we found an awesome burnt spider in the front yard. It looked like this:
http://www.zug.com/pranks/halloween/halloween_prank_03.jpg
But this only got better as time went on, as Mr. Spyder got out there like a dutiful homeowner, and re-seeded and fertilized his yard. It was awesome for months.
http://www.zug.com/pranks/halloween/halloween_prank_04.jpg
Is there a practical application for this prank we enjoyed so long ago? Oh, I don't know....
http://www.zug.com/pranks/halloween/halloween_prank_05.jpg
*no actual spiders were injured in the production of this prank
