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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Time and donations running short on ACCESS food drive ... Fire damages multiple townhouses in Phoenix ... Snow causing traffic slowdowns around the region ... Time and donations running short on ACCESS food drive ... Fire damages multiple townhouses in Phoenix ... Snow causing traffic slowdowns around the region ... Costa Living: Basking in flower power Comment By Peter Costa More Content Now MailTribune.com By Peter Costa More Content Now Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 9:39 AM By Peter Costa More Content Now Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 9:39 AM » Social News I threw out my back last week bending down to smell the roses. Actually, they were rhododendrons. I was in the process of walking the property lines to see what was blooming. The daffodils were reflecting the sunlight in saffron yellows. The geometry was perfect. The rising sun beams seemed to intersect with the flowers heralding the new growth of spring. It was while I was examining the new buds that I knew something was awry with the rhododendrons. During the winter, they pointed up or down depending on the amount of snow on them. This past winter they spent most of their time flattened by the heavy snowfall and were lost in snow banks. I wandered over to see how much damage they had sustained and found them still only a few inches above the ground. I leaned forward and tried to give them a boost. Their stems were still woven in a mat of dead grass and leaves. Reaching to pull one of them up, my back went down. I pulled a back muscle again. Almost anything can cause a back spasm, but I was surprised that looking at rhododendrons could cause it. It is usually at this time that I sing the praises of the inventor of Ibuprofen. Long may he/ she live. (I usually have food with my Ibuprofen. Otherwise my stomach lining would be harmed or so sayeth my doctor. He probably takes baby aspirin.) At this time every year we assess how we did the past season regarding our health. It’s been a difficult winter for humans as well as the flowers. Bouts of flu and other viruses really laid my buddies low. Several have had serious respiratory problems and others required joint replacements. Health problems were exacerbated by a winter that took no prisoners. One of one of my friends fractured his wrist after falling on his ice-encrusted steps. Another friend hurt his ribs in a fall. Yet another fell and broke his femur. The respiratory world was in full riot. And this was with people taking flu shots. This was a time of sending get-well wishes rather than holiday greetings. But even ice ages are finite. Our winter, thankfully, has passed and our flower beds are pointing to a bright future. Peter Costa is a columnist for GateHouse Media. He has published two books of humor and a novel. By Peter Costa More Content Now MailTribune.com By Peter Costa More Content Now Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 9:39 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501