by Curt Kovener
The recently completed Labor Day was established to recognize the men and women of the workforce who make things, provide services, and are generally the one’s responsible for keeping the economy moving.
It is also a time when many of the rest of us catch up on always needed yard work.
I have found that during the spring and summer growing season there are places I mow with “a lick and a promise” but usually never get around to fulfilling the promise of cutting closer or pulling those weeds.
Earlier this spring there were portions below the dam that were too wet to cut. Now that they are finally dry, only a half-a-mower width can be cut lest the mower engine choke out.
Using the heavy duty string trimmer, I spent a couple of hours, knocking down the weeds that I had previously promised to get to. I have found Labor Day is a good time because the seed heads have generally not matured so I am not scattering seeds for next year’s weed whacking. And cutting the weeds the first of September, they do not have time to re-grow much before the first frost puts them out of commission.
But waiting until late summer to cut weeds finds them tough, sinewy, and generally resistant to weed whacker line. Some of the taller weeds require three passes to cut down to size. If I try to cut them to ground level all at once, the wrap around the weed whacker and stall the progress.
Occasionally, I would run across a yard gee-gaw that I didn’t know was missing. This year it was a hummingbird feeder probably knocked from its hanger by a nosey raccoon.
By the end of the weed-whacking session both the weed-whacker and I am out of gas. So I adjourn to the back deck to cool off in front of a fan and enjoy a chilled adult beverage.
It is then in the late afternoon sunlight that I see numerous flying insects. And it reminds me that I need to spray some insecticide around the windows and doors for the soon-to-be arriving lady bugs wanting to spend the winter with me.
