I’m generally not a “stop and smell the roses” type. I’ve always got something to do, and smelling roses takes time.
But I’ve been walking more than normal this year – I try and get in at least 5,000 steps a day – and it’s impossible to not see, admire – and yes, smell – all the flowers that are now in bloom.
Here are a few pictures I took while on yesterday’s walk:
Let’s hear it for our neighbors who go out of their way to make all these flowers available for all to see – and smell.
Speaking of vegetation, at the last meeting of the Brentwood Community Council, much time was spent discussing an executive order from Gavin Newsom that would require everyone to cut trees and bushes back, leaving at least five feet of space between foliage and a structure.
The idea, of course, is to keep burning plants from catching one’s home on fire.
Diana Nicole, an ecological horticulturist who attended the BCC meeting via Zoom, said policymakers should not rush into this. Some plants and trees actually help protect a home from catching fire, she said.
She showed several photos from both the Palisades and Altadena fires showing homes reduced to ash while surrounding trees were still standing – and green.
In Brentwood, we love our trees, so let’s hope our governor, elected officials, and their staff do their homework on this one.
Here’s a very informative article from The Conversation that might help: https://theconversation.com/california-plan-to-ban-most-plants-within-5-feet-of-homes-for-wildfire-safety-overlooks-some-important-truths-about-flammability-257109
Fire, of course, remains on everyone’s mind.
The Brentwood Homeowners Association, in cooperation with the Brentwood Community Council, held a “Harden Your Home” event at St. Martin of Tours on Saturday, June 14. Several vendors exhibited products intended to reduce the risk of a fire spreading.
Time for my next walk! See you in the ’hood!
