Gardeners

     There are thousands of Latino gardeners in Los Angeles. They come from different countries, Mexico, Mesoamerica. Most come to this country with just the shirt on their backs. They've carved out an occupation for themselves. And best I can tell, they're extremely hard workers. It's rare that a gardener calls in sick to work. At least in my neighborhood. Three of my neighbors have gardeners. The gardeners show up on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at about eight-thirty in the morning. The sound of their leaf-blowers lets me know that they're here.
     Latino gardeners work for the wealthy in Bel Air and Beverly Hills, and the not so well-off in the suburbs. If you hire a gardener in Los Angeles, there's a fair chance he's going to be Latino. 
     Unless of course you're the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their gardeners are white. They don't call themselves gardeners either. They call themselves the "ground crew." And as gardening jobs go, it's probably one of the best gigs in town.