I occasionally mow over sticks instead of picking them up. Sticks are just details that slow down the process of mowing the yard. These minor details can however, fly up and hit me in the leg or injure someone walking by my home. I need to stop and take the time to pick up the sticks. Perhaps it's time to pick them up and take a look.
Precious time is wasted mowing around things.
However, those that do plant flowers must consider carefully the location of the plant. Where the plant is planted partially determines how well it will flourish. Looking in the same place over and over again in the exact same way rarely brings success. Consider other areas where the family might have lived and where they might have traveled. You might be looking in the wrong place.