Ah, June … the official start of summer – a time when the air is thick with the scent of charcoal, fresh-cut grass and perhaps a hint of overly enthusiastic lawn fertilizer.
Father’s Day and graduation season collide in a flurry of gift bags, paper plates,and meat that may or may not be fully cooked. It’s also when backyard rivalry reaches its peak – suburban warfare by way of riding mowers and “look how green my lawn is” bravado.
Dads get center stage in June, delivering their signature brand of tough love, grilling expertise and unsolicited advice – typically involving jumper cables or how “you don’t need that many streaming services.” Meanwhile, grads are out there celebrating their hard-earned diplomas with parties that now include photo booths and charcuterie boards, along with that one relative you secretly hoped wouldn’t accept the invitation.
And let’s not forget the backyard battles. This is the time of year when neighbors transform into turf warriors. Suddenly, there are strategic conversations about irrigation systems, suspicious side-eyes at weed-free flower beds, and a shocking number of people who know the actual pH level of their garden soil.
Of course, underneath all the bragging and back-patting is something real: pride. Pride in raising good kids who made it to graduation. Pride in being a dad who still gets a laugh from a bad pun and a groan-worthy anecdote. Pride in a yard that took three weekends, 12 mosquito bites and one thrown-out back to finally “look decent.”
So here’s to June. To the dads with tongs in one hand and a cold beverage in the other. To the grads navigating their next big step with wide eyes and high hopes. And if your lawn is the greenest on the block? Hey, just own it!
