Most people nearing retirement are  determined to live in their own home.  However,  it doesn’t always work out that way if one spouse dies, gets sick, or disabled.  But  let’s  suppose you’re lucky enough to age in place. You have the strength to shop, cook, and clean your house. And yet, maintaining a lawn is more challenging.  If you are over eighty, chances are you are paying someone to do that. Unfortunately, our lawn man passed away , and we had to hire someone new this year.  Beware: Just because  someone owns a lawn mower, it doesn’t mean they can tell a flower from a weed.  So, if you’re starting out with a new lawn  service, you might say:  Please don’t weedeat the lilies.

Lilies are probably one of the most beautiful spring flowers, but their blooming period is short.  For years, my husband and I planted bulbs along our fence in the fall.  Come spring, we had a splash of colored lilies that brightened our yard and brought joy to everyone who passed by. Lilies only bloom for a short time, but they’re definitely worth waiting for.

This spring, it looked like the mild winter and spring rains were bringing us a bonanza of lilies.  They were sprouting up everywhere, doubling what had come up the year before.  We watched in excitement, thinking of all the beautiful blooms we were about to see.  And then, along came our new  lawn man with a young  helper.  A  girl who didn’t even look sixteen.  As I glanced out the window, I saw her calmly running a weed eater along the fence row, chopping down lily after lily in a matter of seconds.  I raced out the door, yelling for her to stop. She seemed confused.  Turns out she was the man’s daughter.. Heartbroken,   I asked, “can you tell a flower from a weed?” To which she sharply replied, ‘No Ma am.”

The father was apologetic; offered to buy new lilies.  But all the money in the world couldn’t restore those nineteen dead lilies, cut down before they were able to fulfill their mission on this earth.  So my advice to you is this.  If you’re starting out with a new lawn service, be sure to say : Please don’t weedeat the lilies.