Maybe there is a method to the madness.
Could part of the prosecution's strategy be to call these witnesses now go through their mundane testimony... let the defense try and tie them all into a cover up essentially bundling all that stuff at the start of the trial... then the prosecution closes with the meat of the case?
Sure the defense can recall a witness... but at that point the jury has already heard them testify and is going to be far more interested in seeing a response to the important evidence vs. hearing the defense (again) try and drum up doubts about beefs over walking on lawns, etc..
Just a thought.