Late summer along the Los Angeles River, the willows crowd the channel and the bike path runs hot into the afternoon, and the little lawns on the streets above are working hard to stay green. Rafa's Landscaping Service keeps them going — mowing on schedule, edging the walks, trimming the fence lines and taking the clippings out so nothing sits and cooks. Grass gets tough this time of year; a steady cut and a clean border keep it looking cared for rather than merely alive. The days are long and the route is honest work from one end to the other. There is nothing better at five o'clock than a yard that finished well.