What's the significance of these "rocks"?
 

Something I've noticed appearing recently (that I've never noticed before) are big 'ol rocks, rectangular in shape, maybe 2'x3', 'bout 3' tall that people have started putting on the corner of their property, or next to their driveway. They're just out by themselves, not part of any other landscaping, etc. One fellow I see working in his yard all the time is an older gentleman of Latino/Hispanic origin, so maybe it's something cultural? I don't EVEN want to google "big azz rock", so figured y'all could set me straight :).

sounds big enough to stop a car... are they mostly on corner lots without a barrier that protects the living room?

No, nothing like that at all...

ps: I should clarify...it's just one single rock stuck out by itself.

Take a photo.

They are installed to keep people from cutting the corner through the yard causing ruts in the grass. Lots of shopping centers are doing the same thing to keep the guys driving the delivery semis through the landscaping. For private homes, it's more prevalent when there isn't a ditch.

Thanks Steve(s)! I'll snap a pic of the one I pass all the time (can't recall where I've seen the others, but I've seen a few). "This" one wouldn't appear to serve any barrier purpose where it's placed...it appears to be purely decorative or something...

Some of them are decorative covers to hide the cable box.

mini monolith?

A friend of mine has something similar in his driveway. He has shop out back and I bring my car there sometimes. It's uphill to the shop and it's a long driveway. It's very nerveracking backing down that drive in a track car with fixed back seats designed to keep you looking forward.

Still waiting on pics.....

space junk fell to earth?

Whale puke?

8-year-old finds chunk of whale vomit worth £40,000 - Weird News - Digital Spy

Could it be an old carriage step? The carriage would pull up to the rock and you would then step onto the rock to climb into the carriage. I see them from time to time in front of older homes. At one time just about everyone had one. Then the car came out and the need for one was gone.

Keith Stone fan club markers?

Stonehenge!!

You guys are no help at all...but funny! Mreid has it, and wins (loses) a truckload of Keystone light :). I grabbed my camera and walked through the hood to snap a picture of said "rock", and the older Hispanic gentleman was working beside of his house, so I approached him.

Me: "Hello, May I ask you a question?"

Him: "No hablo ingles"

Me: "Hablo un poco espanol. Por que la roca? (while pointing to the other side of the yard).

He just had a puzzled look on his face (wow, I didn't realize my Spanish sucked so bad), so I motioned for him to follow me around the cars near the street to where the "rock" was. Turns out it's not literally a rock , but a plastic "rock" cover for the sprinkler system that he's recently installed. We both had a big laugh over it! Whew...now I can sleep easy tonight...thanks all!