The expression "Bloom where you're planted" is good for people and for flowers

Mezger Family Zinnia Patch is a sight worth seeing

As Congress continues to debate ways to make poor people poorer, how about we focus on something right here in Yolo County that might brighten everyone's day and help us to restore our faith in the essential goodness of humanity.

Every year at this time, for as long as I can remember, the Red-Headed Girl of My Dreams and I would pack our kids into our Honda Odyssey and take a short ride up the valley to the incredible Mezger Family Zinnia Patch, which occupied a large piece of ground slightly north of the town of Yolo on a frontage road running parallel to Interstate 5, but just east of the freeway.

I'm certain we aren't the only folks in town who have made this delightful trip, but I'm also certain there are many others in Davis who aren't aware there is even a town named "Yolo," and maybe a few who couldn't tell a zinnia from a zebra.

But, not wishing to waste my words, I figured I'd run a little poll to see how many people actually know about this zinnia patch and how many have actually plucked a bloom or two to take to a friend or neighbor or loved one or simply to decorate the dining room table.

So, the other day I stopped 10 random strangers downtown and asked them if they had ever been to the Mezger Family Zinnia Patch.

Fully eight of them said "no," but seemed eager for more information.

The other two called the police.

Zinnias were a part of my childhood because my dad, a dedicated botanist, realized they were just about the easiest flower for a kid to grow. He made sure each one of his five kids had their own little zinnia plot in the backyard and bloom they did. (The zinnias, not the kids).

The flowers would seemingly bloom all summer, even in 105-degree heat, especially if you pruned them properly, which dad taught us how to do.

Well, one recent day, as we were taking a Sunday ride in the country, headed northward as always, someone suggested we should see if the Mezger zinnias were in bloom yet.

We pulled off into the charming hamlet of Yolo, just off I-5 a few miles north of Woodland, and drove to a spot just outside of town that we were sure would be alive with multi-colored zinnias.

But when we got to the exact spot we had visited in so many years prior, we were heartbroken to find nothing at all where thousands of zinnias used to bloom.

No flowers, no people, no critters, no weeds, no nothing. Just bare ground.

We were stunned and saddened as we fondly remembered all the joy this simple but spectacular patch of ground had brought us in year's past.

I had that sense of resignation that all good things must end someday, but the more agile minds in our van proposed that maybe the patch had simply moved for one reason or another.

Fat chance, I thought.

Fortunately, optimism won out over naysaying and everyone set about to find the presumed new and improved location.

First, of course, we had to remember if the patch had a name, but Mezger did not come quickly to mind, and even when it finally did, we weren't sure we were spelling it correctly. Who knows, maybe they have free zinnia patches in Iowa, too, but we weren't about to drive that far to gather up a bouquet.

The name "Mezger" and the word "zinnias" quickly produced the desired result.

Indeed, the Mezger Family Zinnia Patch was alive and thriving, but the location had changed for reasons that were not explained.

Actually, it wasn't far from the old patch, but it took a bit of searching.

The new address is 11990 County Road 96, Woodland 95695.

But trust me, it's a lot closer to Yolo than it is to Woodland.

The flowers are free to anyone and everyone and the patch is open from sunup to sundown, seven days a week.

You're asked to please not disturb the neighbors and it's advised that you bring a vase or two with water, though in previous years we have seen occasional vases available.

There is no one there to supervise you. You come, you park, you pick.

One of the "Rules of the Zinnia Patch" states, "If you pick some for yourself, make sure you pick for those who aren't able to make it out."

They also want you to "Have fun and be safe," which should be easy since zinnias don't bite and are non-toxic.

So, if you weren't already aware of this stunningly beautiful wonderland, now you know.

And remember, pick some flowers for someone else. Or maybe call that someone else and bring them along for the ride.

It warms my heart to ponder the kindness of the Mezger family and the joy they have brought to so many of us over the years.

Long may this wonderful tradition survive.

Reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com