Well, we survived all the Fourth of July fireworks extravaganzas without burning down the mountain, so now it’s time to get on with the rest of summer in sunny Southern California. No matter whether you reside at the beach, the inland valleys or in the mountains, there’s that cool, refreshing ocean breeze that blows through late in the day.
Sweet days of summer, the jasmine’s in bloom. July is dressed up and playing her tune. When I come home from a hard day’s work and you’re waiting there, not a care in the world. Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind. (“Summer Breeze” – Seals and Crofts – 1972)
It feels really good to finally have all the winter and spring storm debris cleaned up. Now that all the weeds have been whacked away, I can finally get down to tending to my thirsty roses, daylilies and vinca. Sure, the weeds will likely need another whacking before summer’s over. If I got one of those John Deere 20hp, 7mph hydrostatic, ride-along mowers, I could get the job done in a jiffy. Instead of three days of backbreaking labor, using my puny Walmart weed eater, I could be stylin’ it in the driver’s seat with a tall, cool one (lemonade, of course), all the while dodging the rattlers often encountered doing it the old-fashioned way. I know what you’re thinkin’ – “This guy’s either delusional or a dreamer” (or both).
Keeping up with yard work not only gives me a chance to stay in good physical shape, but also a chance to commune with nature. For the past two weeks I’ve been transplanting healthy vinca vines by pulling them up from our old vinca garden, which survived the 2003 Old Fire. They are growing back to their original luster, with bright green leaves and purple periwinkle blossoms in my new vinca garden, along the roadside, in front of the stately Motley Manor.
OK, who remembers “Old Man Periwinkle” from the 70s-era TV show Match Game? Alright, you with your hand up in the air. Not you, Gene. (Gene Rayburn was the host of this nightly, sometimes comedic quiz show featuring Brett Somers, Richard Dawson, Betty White, Charles Neson Riley and Gary Burghof). By the way, you can still watch episodes of this entertaining program at 3 a.m. on the Game Channel (Channel 233, if you have Direct TV).
Keep it flyin’,
Uncle Mott
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