Letters

This time of year, when I set foot in my backyard, I’m greeted with the most beautiful floral bouquet — a large and magnificent frangipani tree. Fragrant five-petal white flowers adorn the tree. Some fall gracefully to blanket the green grass below. The scent is even sweeter after the lawnmower plows over them. And the tree looks so very pretty when covered with raindrops!

Summer treats are within easy reach. Neighbors share the bounty of their mango trees — and I can’t wait to turn them into mango smoothies or margaritas.

Ah, the joys of summer in South Florida! Moments like these are part of the reason I look forward to the off-season, or the summer slowdown. I’ve learned to welcome summer, appreciating all its perks, including the blooming trees and juicy stone fruits.

The population dwindles, with many of our neighbors chilling in northern climes, or cruising aboard private yachts bound for the French Riviera, the Mediterranean or the Greek islands.

But those of us left behind are not without benefits.

We don’t have to worry about reservations at our favorite dining spots. To sweeten the pot, restaurants are offering summer specials and discounted prices.

It’s also a great time for staycations, since many resorts offer discounted rates, too.

Beaches are less crowded, but sea turtles are busy laying eggs and if we’re lucky we can participate in a turtle walk, giving us an exclusive after-hours look at the nesting process.

While both the temperature and humidity feel stratospheric now, we have ways of getting around that. Take in a theatrical performance or see a movie on the big screen. Icy air conditioning is complimentary.

Visiting an art museum is another option for indoor entertainment and elucidation. Check out the exhibits at Boca Raton Museum of Art or the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, which, by the way, offers free admission to county residents on Saturdays through Aug. 30.

Of course, we’ll want to keep an eye on the tropics and stock up early with hurricane supplies. But we won’t let fear of a bad storm keep us from enjoying our summer.

Adiós for now. There’s a mango margarita with my name on it waiting on the lanai  — and the lounge chair beside it has a great view of my favorite frangipani tree. It’s happy hour at mi casa and you can guess where I’ll be hanging out.

Please join me in toasting the off-season. ¡Salud!

— Mary Thurwachter, Managing Editor