Leona Heights Neighborhood News

by Gordon Laverty

Signs of spring are here! Flowers and trees have started to blossom. Wild animals like deer, raccoons, skunks, and opossums are being seen more often. And everything is green. At my home, we especially get a kick out of watching two busy squirrels becoming more active after a winter spent high in the swaying palm trees in our front yard. And as a matter of celebration, the flowering bulbs planted by neighborhood volunteers at the foot of Rusting along Mountain Blvd. last fall have jumped out of the ground. Hooray! And for those of you with gardens, this time of year brings the annual declaration of war against weeds. While Oakland has its public issues and concerns, there's one thing we can do for ourselves starting today, and that's keep our homes and gardens looking as beautiful as possible for all to enjoy. After all, as a person walks or drives along parts of Leona or Mountain View or Mountain Blvd, it's hard not think of ourselves as living in a kind of park. We're very lucky in our neighborhood to be living as close as possible to being in harmony with nature. It's one of the many things in life we can celebrate.

'Gordon Laverty can be reached at lavertyhillmob2\@sbcglobal.net.