I spent the entire eight-hour work day on one property doing nothing but hauling hoses around. This is a place that supposedly has a working irrigation system. I guess my idea of enough water is different than some people’s. I left the sprinkler on one area for four hours and found powder half an inch down.

Plus, while I’m already complaining, let me also point out that expensive metal sprinklers last less than a year. Everything is made on the principle of planned obsolescence. I think my grandparents had one simple whirling one that lasted their entire adult lifetime.

On a more upbeat note, the roses are still looking great. There is an impressive rambler way up into a cedar tree opposite the alpaca farm. Unlike the hybrids, that variety gives it all and then is finished for the season.

If one continues dead-heading some varieties, i.e. knockout, they will continue right up until frost.

Speaking of dead-heading, there is plenty to be done. Annual flowers have but one job — to produce seed. Once they do that they are pretty much finished with their life purpose. If the gardener continues to trick them by removing the spent flower, they will put out more.

I picked the rest of my fennel. I was pleased with this year’s crop, I put it in early and it made some beautiful bulbs. Last year I waited too long and it all went to seed. It was beautiful to see anyway.

There is a catalpa near Hillside Village. It took some serious storm damage this winter. The tree people cut it in a pleasing fashion. Now it has leafed out and is very interesting. It reminds me of the street trees in Rome. They are old with enormous trunks but are cut yearly to about 20 feet tall.

I’m hateful of yucca. It is too tropical-looking and impossible to uproot. However it is starting to bloom and I may have to take stock of my cynical nature. It is lovely, I admit it!

It seems early but the sled-riding hill at the Tashmoo Overlook is awash in butterfly weed. I started some from seed last year and it’s budding. Hurray!

Some 40 years ago, I attended the home birth of friend Sharlee’s daughter Abigail. That same day, baby chicks hatched in the living room. Sharlee had tended them in an incubator for nearly a month.

Abigail is now grown with children and chickens of her own. She noticed a couple of broody hens but did not have a rooster. Sharlee gave her 10 fertilized eggs. All 10 of them hatched this week. Isn’t life grand?

What is particularly grand was the remarkable rescue of the boys and their soccer coach. It as a fascinating story and totally creepy for those of us with any amount of claustrophobia. The whole world was watching and hoping for a success.

Then we have the hundreds of children separated from their parents. This is no accident or natural event but the pure politicized hubris of our commander-in-chief. What a sad state of affairs. Now we have to endlessly hear about his meetings with BFF Putin.

“No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” Abraham Lincoln.

“A people that values its privileges over its principles soon loses both.” Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.” Mark Twain.

“Power always thinks it has great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak.” John Adams.