Every summer I think about how much fun it is to watch a fireworks display: there’s the fun of finding one (which, I must admit, has gotten a lot easier these days thanks to the Internet), traveling to it, parking, sitting outside either freezing (in California) or sweating and swatting mosquitoes (here in Florida), and heading on home through the crush of people. To this mix, we then add a toddler, and, well, you can see why I’m looking for alternative ways of celebrating our country’s independence.
What is it that people like about fireworks?
Is it the noise? They certainly are noisy; noisy enough to drive dogs to distraction, keep toddlers (and parents) awake when they would rather be sleeping, and generally cause the same level of nuisance as our inconsiderate neighbors do when they hold their outdoor parties that BEGIN (not wind down, but START UP) at 3 a.m.
Is it the colors? The colors are definitely awe-inspiring. Brilliant reds, vibrant greens, bright yellows and whites, purples. They are absolutely lovely, particularly against the night-time sky.
The danger? Every year, thousands of people head to the local emergency room for treatment of firework-inflicted burns and worse injuries. Even as a child, when everyone in the neighborhood was lighting off sparklers and sending up bottle rockets, I always preferred keeping my hands and face intact to the possiblity of severe injury. I don’t know; that might just be a personal thing.
I have to admit, when I happen upon a fireworks display, it is impressive.
But there’s a much less dangerous way to enjoy impressive displays of vibrant colors: plant them! Firebush, for instance, flowers year-round. Many other Florida native plants flower at different seasons of the year; here is what’s around this season:
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