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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JULY 2020 | 47 Paisano Club The Paisano Club hopes to meet this month on Fri., July 10, with a dinner celebrating a circus theme. We definitely look forward to picking up where we left off in the South Clubhouse. Entertainment will be provided by The Gentlemen 3, and dinner will be catered by Thomas Catering. Theme costumes at our monthly dinners are always optional, and you don't have to be Italian to join! Dues are $20 per year, and each dinner is $16 per person. For more information, contact Jeri Wall at (909) 731-3311. "May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right." ~ Peter Marshall A bright blend of family, friends, picnics, and patriotism fills the summer air: red, white, and blue adorns every Main Street, parade floats roll by to the brassy tunes of the local marching band, sparklers and firecrackers dazzle the kids in the backyard while the parents revel in happy hour all day long. Independence Day — a day for flipping some burgers, blasting some good tunes and (of course) pouring on the bug spray for the evening fireworks show. That was the Fourth of July of yesteryear where Americans celebrated across the nation. In 2020, we look forward to seeing the creativity of our nation's communities as they visualize the best way for us to celebrate. Happy Birthday America! Meanwhile back on the garden front: Looking around the Village, things are blooming all over, and it is beautiful and reminds us all how grateful we are to live in such a lovely community. Regrettably, you can't peer into the backyards where the real garden artistry is hidden. But here are some interesting things about July: did you know summertime, especially July, is often said to be the optimal time to cultivate Orchids? Orchid blooms last up to several months, whether potted or cut. Delphinium, sometimes called "Larkspur," is the birth flower of July. It blooms from late spring to late summer, and has been said to symbolize "an open heart and ardent attachment." Because of its blue/black color, Delphinium has traditionally been held to ward off lightning and to keep witches from casting spells. Lilies, originally found in tropical marshlands, need to be watered often. Lilies come in several different varieties such as Calla Lilies and Peruvian Lilies, or Alstromeria. Beautiful Dahlias, Spanish Hidalgos observed Dahlias growing in Mexico as early as the 16th century. Dahlias were used to treat epilepsy, and their long, hollow stems were often used as water pipes. Gardenias thrive in sunny, humid climates. They grow best in temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Hydrangeas, a thirsty summertime plant, gets its name from the Greek "hydor," or water, and "angos," or vessel, roughly translating to "water barrel." These are just a few of the many gorgeous flowers of July. The important thing is to get out there and be adventurous, try new species of plants, and as May Sarton states, "A garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs." Until we meet again in the Main Clubhouse Ballroom, be safe and happy gardening. For membership, contact Sherry Case at (951) 533- 3584 or Linda Powers at (951) 769-3101. For fruit harvesting contact Judy Garth at (951) 797-3130. For general information contact President, Pam Mikkelsen at (951) 797-3080. Garden Club Just in case: Check with your club contact to confirm meeting place, date, and time. Members of Cruizin' Cronies enjoy showing off their spiffy classic cars, and we look forward to gathering again when things go back to normal here in Sun Lakes. When that happens, we encourage you to check out our club, at 8 am on the first Saturday of each month with our display of classic cars in the Main Clubhouse parking lot. A short meeting in the Multipurpose Room follows at 8:30 am, and then we go to breakfast at a local restaurant. There are no dues, no extra fees, just friendship, stories, and lots of laughter. Call Sandra Glickman, (951) 267-1113, for more information. Cruzin' Cronies If you or your spouse are 80 years old or older, you are eligible to be a member of the wonderful 80s Plus Club. We may be one of the last clubs to reconvene during this pandemic turmoil. I have seen more people going out and about now with variations on their choices of whether to wear masks or not. Every person has to make those decisions for his or herself. We have been gathering on the first Saturday afternoon each month for a social dinner and first rate entertainment. We are always in the South Clubhouse at 3 pm. However, our July gathering happens to fall on the Fourth of July so we don't have a gathering planned in July. Our August gathering would ordinarily be on Aug. 1 so that will not be happening now and we will now look to September for our next decision about resuming our gatherings. I do hope you are all well and safe and I hope to see you all on the other side of this pandemic. For more information about our club, please feel free to contact either Diane Aarhus at (951) 797-3676 or Donna Harrington at (909) 561-5066. Stay safe, be well, and I really do hope the world returns to "normal" some time soon! 80s Plus Club

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