Why did Cherry back down when Violet questioned her about the driveway? Cherry certainly did not lack backbone when she confronted Violet before the concrete was laid. But, spadefoot tadpoles, Cherry!? Adult spadefoot toads would have to make their way into the house, lay their eggs in the puddles, then move out. And it takes a few days just for the eggs to hatch, so what’s the emergency? They will get mopped up when the floor is cleaned. Maybe Cherry is just trying to put a scare into Violet.

I’m going to go out on a limb and prematurely give Rivera credit for having Violet’s comment in panel 4 set up what I think is a clever segue into Sunday’s nature lesson.  We’ll see if that limb I’m on gets cut, sending me down into a puddle of embarrassment.

Yes, dear readers. April 21^st is the traditional (modern) date for the mythical founding of Rome. Having noted that, my prediction about how this flooding incident would be characterized by Cherry is hardly inspired. But Cherry was wrong. The storm did not cause the damage. It was the incompetence of Honest Ernest for not properly angling the driveway to funnel water away from the building. I’m betting he didn’t partition the driveway concrete pouring, either. But none of this explains the water on top of Violet’s desk.

Blimey, who knew Violet was British? As for the water, I’m sure we’ll hear something from Cherry about how the concrete driveway must have been involved. No doubt there is a way that sneaky concrete also caused water to form on Violet’s desk.

As an aside, the Sunny Soleil Society is supposed to be supporting the interests of a local HOA, which is how Cherry first got involved with them. So, since Cherry appears to be under contract to the Society, why wouldn’t they have Cherry provide landscaping and gardening services to homeowners served by the HOA, rather than have her work only on the Society’s grounds? Where’s the money in that?!

Anyway, I’d think Rivera could generate more story ideas through the interactions of Cherry, the Society, and various (quirky) homeowners. Got that, Jules? You can’t keep milking the old Society Cow forever. Dodd didn’t make Mark catch the same poachers, over and over.

If this is Rivera’s take on the “vintage” version of Mark Trail with its 1950s social mores, she should stick with the current crazy version of Mark Trail, thank you. Blech!

I have to admit that that is the worst drawing of lightning that I have seen in years. Sorry, Jules.

Um, in panel 1, Cherry’s hands are pressing against Mark’s chest. Doesn’t looks like a willing embrace to me! But it does look like Rivera has been looking at old-fashioned woodcuts. Why do I think this? Well, the composition is unusual, as is the straight-line hatching surrounding Mark and Cherry. We just don’t see that technique in her work.

The example on the left is clearly not the source, but it does show the linear hatched lines and a tightly-framed composition, like the window scene.

Or maybe Rivera was inspired by 19^th century Victorian art, as in the example on the right.

Or maybe she has another source. Any ideas, people?

Okay, I’m wandering, but that’s pretty much what’s happening this week in Mark Trail, as Cherry’s Week gets the short shrift with this inane series of bad puns.

Am I the only one who thinks the strip looks a bit different today? Perhaps it’s the somber coloring or maybe the different look to Cherry’s appearance. Perhaps that is just a deliberate choice to set the proper tone for Cherry’s despair, as well as her usual exaggeration. Perhaps Mark and Cherry would both feel better after a nighttime “nature walk”. I think the avian “lovebirds” in panel 1 have already set the stage.

In any event, a welcome return to Cherry’s World. But where does the story go from here? The concrete is down, so there is not much she can do about it. I doubt she is up to sabotaging the fresh pouring by doing something really bad, like walking on it or taking a pickaxe to it. Her isolationist brother might be interested, but wrecking a concrete driveway isn’t the same thing as destroying a flowerbed.  Does this mean Cherry’s adventure is over, having hardly begun? That would be fine, as long as she is ready to jump back into something else right away. The way Mark usually does with his assignments.

I’m disappointed that Rivera, having properly introduced a defeat against Cherry’s “save the grass” defense, undermined the dramatic element of the situation by introducing a lame, grade school pun in panel 3. In addition, we see Cherry reduced to committing what appears to be petty theft:  removing rose bushes from the property of the Sunny Soleil Society. And she’s doing it right in front of Violet. Or is Cherry just trying to relocate the bushes to a safer part of the grounds?

Anyway, according to various gardening sites I looked up, you don’t just suddenly dig up a rose bush. It takes a lot of work and a lot of preparation. Acting impulsively is rarely a successful strategy when it comes to transplanting rose bushes.

Violet Cheshire may have gotten a bum deal from the in-laws, but I’d be inclined to put her out to pasture, as well. I reckon that she is putting Cherry firmly in her place with little or no recourse. Cherry’s attempt to cast moralistic aspersions falls flat:  No laws broken, it’s private property, and Cherry is just the hired help. So, will this particular adventure draw to an early close or will Jules Rivera bring on some kind of dux ex machina to keep this story going? Unless Cherry resorts to possibly illegal actions, I don’t see what else she can do. What do you think?

Persisting to argue risks getting fired:  Cherry could stand on principle, but she’d be out of work and the paving would still take place. Ernest has already made his position known and Cherry is not likely to sway him. I wonder if Rivera is brave enough to allow Cherry (or Mark) to lose once in a while? That would be refreshingly realistic and innovative.

I think if I wanted to see “Mary Worth”, I’d read “Mary Worth”. I mean, the general concept for this story is fine:  Cherry is a landscaper fighting against a decision that could adversely affect the local environment. Got it. Maybe I’m being too “male oriented” here. After all, situations like Violet’s certainly must come up. I just hope that we don’t wander too far into the relationship weeds. Cherry Worth? Well, let’s see what Rivera does with the situation. Any bets on whether Cherry brings up Ernest’s wife, Carolyn?

Not sure why Rivera brands this relationship a scandal now (panel 4), as if it wasn’t already a scandal when the relationship was first revealed in Cherry’s prior story (“Rash Decisions”).  But do we need the kind of “reality show” editorializing we see in the narration box of panel 4? If the characters want to declare a scandal, that’s just fine. But I don’t think we need Rivera opining from her caption soapbox, like those annoying in-show mini-interviews they stick in reality shows and “Modern Family.“

Cherry is certainly trying to be reasonable and—shockingly—even pledges to work with Honest Ernest! All to no avail, of course. And Cherry should know better, since Violet has a reputation for not changing her mind.

So, what happens next: Call on her garden club commandoes? Drive out to the mountains to get her survivalist brother? Or call on Mark to make a last stand on property that is not hers? I don’t see any way to take the Society to court; in fact, virtually anything Cherry does would likely be seen as illegal or actionable. I’d be more than surprised if she was able to talk Ernest into taking any kind of action that would hurt his business or contract. It’s a cracker of a problem. I have no idea, but I’m curious to see what Rivera comes up with. One alternative approach for Cherry is to go the way I suggested earlier:  Quit and find new customers: You can’t win ‘em all.

“Miss Violet, might I have a minute of your time?” Guess they really are down South.  As was I, and I still say “Yes, Sir” and “Yes, Ma’am” to people, among other eccentricities.

Seems that the “man who barely knows how to boil water” didn’t bother telling Violet about Cherry’s knowledge of their secret relationship. The way Cherry can’t keep her temper, she’ll no doubt reveal her awareness all by herself. With their history, don’t you wonder why Violet keeps Cherry around? Oh, sure, the needs of the strip. But really, Rivera can create more characters and put Cherry into a different situation.

C’mon, y’all. I don’t have to make the obvious historical connection to Cherry’s pose in panel 4, do I? But if you don’t get it, I’m sure one of the other 2 or 3 viewers will post the correct response in the Comments.

Not sure where Cherry is power-walking to, as the house behind her is the HQ of the Sunny Soleil Society. Maybe she’s just waking up her mojo. She seems unduly optimistic about speaking to the woman who is/was having a secret affair with Honest Ernest. Or will Violet literally kick her out of the house once again?

What to do, what to do!? Heck if I know! This isn’t even her property! Does Honest Ernest plan to cover the entire grounds in concrete or just a small area? Cherry fears the worst. But will it be as bad as she thinks? Certainly, the surface temperature and immediate area above the slab would feel warmer in the summer. But I don’t think there would be enough concrete to create what experts call an urban heat island. Anybody know otherwise? But heat isn’t the only concern: Storm water surface runoff affecting soil and water resources is another concern.

There are some possible mitigations, so I’ve read. For example, proper drainage and collection points can be created, something like gutters around a roof, to direct runoff into safe areas or containers for proper disposal. Most popular is pervious concrete that allows water to pass through it directly into the ground. Another possibility is to ensure plenty of shrubs and trees immediately around the concrete area to help absorb any runoff. Thus, Cherry could work directly with Honest Ernest and Violet to take some safety measures.

Or Cherry could go to a federal court and try to get an order forcing the Sunny Soleil Society to go through an EPA assessment and approval process. That should only take about 10 years or so.

Well, on one hand, Cherry-the-optimist is keeping her cool; but on the other hand, she’s leaning far into environmental hyperbole (panel 2). At least we learn a bit more about the aftermath of Ernest’s liaison with Violet, such as Caroline leaving her not-so-Honest Ernest. Still, this soap opera reality show will likely have used its entire first week of the story to establish a few simple facts: 1) Ernest wants revenge on Cherry and places financial stability over environmental safety. 2) Cherry sees his intentions more as a threat against Nature than her. 3) Violet appears to be siding with Ernest. No surprise, there.

On a technical note, there are some curious out-of-place outlines today. In panel 1, a white highlight of sorts separates Ernest’s head from the rose bushes. I see no reason for this, since Cherry’s image has no such corresponding whitespace. It could be a printing error, as it looks sloppy. However, the owl in panel 2 is odd for a few reasons, one being the unnecessary green highlight on the right side and head of the owl. Second, is the style of the drawing, appearing in a style different from the rest of the strip. Well, I could also be influenced by the oddly-shaped and colored bush behind the owl.

Frankly, this is hard to follow. There is supposed to be a dirt driveway here, along with the garden. Where? The earlier scene showed a regular lawn with a flagstone walkway. No cars or patch of dirt in sight!

So I don’t understand the logistics here. Certainly, the SSS staff drive to work on a normal road and probably have a parking lot of some kind, dirt or whatever. Or do they drive to work on ATVs?

Well, perhaps this conundrum isn’t really the point, after all. The point is a potential case of environmental damage versus a concrete driveway. Well, Ernest does support a certain kind of logic: The logic of an eye for an eye.

See, Cherry!? I told you that your best course of action was to find another client. Instead, you once again get embroiled in this tawdry affair of petty power politics and corruption. You waste time with unhelpful sarcasm. Do you think Violet is going to come out and take your side? When has she ever done that!? Cut these losers loose while you have the edge, before you lose your job and self-respect. Don’t waste any more time!

Still married, is he? Well, I didn’t think Cherry had anything to apologize for, in spite of her insincere response in panel 2. But where is this situation heading? Is it just some kind of slice-of-life vignette thrown in before the real plot begins? Or will Violet Cheshire show up tomorrow and join in this verbal abuse party?

By the way, it always seems to be summer in Lost Forest, or at least, good weather. That’s not uncommon for comic strips, of course. But over the past two years, has there even been any Winter? One might think Lost Forest is in southern California. And maybe that would be a valid thought, though right now, southern California makes Minnesota look downright balmy.