Fence us in; flags like daffodils; white roofs

Fence Us In

Adapted from Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com

Some businesses plow on. Our cedar back fence blew down in Monday’s southerly gale. The fence is more important than ever  because it provides us with a protected (including for our sometimes-volatile dog) outdoor green space in these claustrophobic times. Better that old barrier collapsing than the dead tree in an adjoining yard crashing down on our roof in a tropical storm (which Monday’s extratropical tempest reminded me of). When I was a kid we looked forward to tropical storms for providing us with new supplies of firewood.

Anyway, the fence guy, whose little company also deals with tree threats, showed up the next morning perhaps more eager to help than in less recessionary times. Government predictions call for a hefty hurricane season this year, and so he may have more customers than he can handle come August, September and October.

National Grid (the “nation,’’ by the way, is the United Kingdom) has planted little warning flags, looking from a distance like daffodils, all over the place in our neighborhood warning of gas lines below. Colorful warnings everywhere these days amidst the proliferating flowers.

A 35 °C (95 °F) heat reduction was observed on this modified bitumen roof with a white, reflective roof coating.

My younger daughter, who lives in, and is now trapped in, Brooklyn, sent some photos of rooftops that looked as if they’re covered with pristine snow. In fact, they’re simply painted white to reflect heat in the summer, in a reminder of a bigger problem than COVID-19 – global warming. A nice effect, as is the evening cheering of health-care workers from windows and front stoops.