Unclogging Culverts, Peonies and Wild Roses

The rain on Saturday was the result of a Nor’easter and it truly was a deluge. I had to go down to the culvert to clear trash that had rushed ‘downstream.’ There was bubble wrap, styrofoam, a beer can, a plastic bottle. There I was with my yellow slicker on, pulling things out of the water. I eventually put all the crap into a trash bag. I also cleared some reeds that were clogging my neighbors’ pipe. Yesterday, I returned and pulled a lot of weeds that were growing there because they were impeding the movement of the water.

As a reward for my efforts, Phileas made an appearance later in the day.

As you know, my peony bushes are old and tired and one of them is now in the shade because of the shag hickory that grew up and out of the middle of the bush. I know I need to move them but truth be told, by the time autumn comes around, I forget about it. Last year, we had no buds. This year? One. And it’s a beauty! I suspect it will open in a few days because it’s going to be very warm on Tuesday through Thursday.

That means we have to install the A/C units tomorrow.

The brambles are in bloom with tiny little white flowers. I can see that the catalpa is getting ready to flower. Like clockwork, this always happens during the first week of June: peonies, catalpa flowers, and brambles turning into wild roses. It doesn’t matter if it’s been abnormally cold, or abnormally warm. It never happens early or late.

We watched Network  last night. I hadn’t watched it in years. The great Paddy Chayefsky wrote it way back in the 70s as a satire on television and television news and coroporate takeovers of the networks. It has all come true. Everything he wrote about has come true. He saw it all and he was right on the money. Stunningly prescient. I can’t stop thinking about it today.

Happy Monday.

Stay safe.