Finally the temp’s are more uniform and warmer. Or, at least May ended that way. Maybe now I can get the grass all the same color and growing at the same speed. The farm is not flat and when temp’s bounce between 40 and 80, with the incessant wind, every slope and bump wants to grow differently. The situation is not very noticeable in a yard, even a large yard, but in a 130 acre circle certain areas stand out like a sore thumb.

Anyway, if we have a normal June, things will settle down. The lawn care calendar will prove itself to be a “steady Eddy” again. Those who tried to force color with extra fertilizer will be mowing 3 times a week trying to catch up.

Who know how the crabgrass control will work out? With the kind of spring we had, the correct timing of the application was just a guess. Luck will be a major factor there, (I’d rather be lucky than good anyway).

Irrigation is up to 3 times per week. Sudden spikes in temp’s can cause the grass to brown a little but a syringe cycle or two will solve that. There could be more weeds this summer than in others because of the lat rains and cooler weather.

Business has been steady but will probably fall off in July and August just like it has for 25 years. The economy doesn’t look any stronger to me than it did last year. Good, solid contractors are working steady or even seeing a little increase. The shysters are laying off, which is not always good because the laid-off go get their own white pickups and try to out bid the low ballers, (The cycle goes round and round.)

My birthday is coming up again (no presents please) and I have a little wish list; (1)oil prices hold steady, (2) all the incumbents get voted out, (3) Wall Street gets some rules, and (4) business gets a little style back. I think (4) is the most troubling. I have been a businessman for 48 years and this “low-bid, I-don’t-care” attitude combined with the increasing lack of courtesy is not a good thing. Maybe, when the candles go out…………….(although, Jaclyn Smith still hasn’t called.)

Later