Those hazy, lazy days of summer!  Let's see... sitting outside late into the evening, listening to the crickets and watching the fireflies glow.  Snapping beans or shelling peas to the sounds of kids in the sprinkler.  Summernight heat lightening.  Early mornings in the garden with bees buzzing my head.  Fresh sliced tomatoes, purplehull peas with pods of young okra, fresh strawberry pie and peach cobbler, icy cold watermelon and frosty lemonade or iced tea.  At times it seems so hot, even the mosquitoes act lazy.  I try to savor these delicious days and nights... slowly.

Notable dates this summer, 2005
June 5 - World Environment Day
June 6 - Full Moon
June 6 - D-Day
June 9 - Donald Duck's Birthday
June 14 - Flag Day
June 17 - Father's Day
June 21 - Summer Solstice (1st day of summer)
July 1 - Build A Scarecrow Day
July 4 - US Independence Day
July 5 - Full Moon
July 12 - National Pecan Pie Day
August 4 - Full Moon
August 9 - Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night **
**My personal favorite summer holiday -- ;-)

On the  Summer Solstice, The Longest Day

  In our yards and gardens . . .

If some areas of your gardens or beds are lacking, add extra color with quick annuals, purchased in 2 - 4 inch pots.  Most local garden centers will have healthy ones available through June.  Surround your tomato patch with bright marigolds ... they not only look great, it's believed that they help repel Nematodes.

After the foliage of your spring blooming bulbs begins to die down, it is safe to cut it back.  The bulbs can also be divided and moved at this time.

Be diligent in deadheading and pinching back most blooming annuals and perennials to prolong their bloom time, and help keep them bushy.

Houseplants thrive on a summer vacation outside, where they benefit from the fresh air, extra humidity, and light exposure.  Be cautious, though, and ease them into their new environment.  Keep them in an area protected from direct sunlight and check the soil daily ... all outdoor container plants dry out much faster than bedding plants.  Some may need a daily watering, and feed regularly with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer.

On June 15 at exactly 12 Noon, set your sundial for 12:00.  This is one of the four days of the year that Solar Noon agrees with our clock's noon.

Make sure hummingbird feeders always have fresh mixture in them ... it can ferment in the hot sunshine.  A little Vaseline smeared along the hook or chain supporting your feeder may help discourage ants.  Freshen the water in birdbaths daily -- the birds will thank you, and it also prevents mosquito larvae from developing.  Hummingbirds also love to bathe, usually on wet leaves or in a misty sprinkler.

Pulling those hateful weeds by hand is still the best way to get rid of them, and by starting early it's easier to stay ahead of them.  Always try to get that thing out of there before it has a chance to bloom and re-seed.

After tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, and other warm weather vegetables start bearing fruit, fertilize weekly and water daily, if rainfall is slight.  I trim the 'suckers' from my tomato plants ... I think the plant has a chance to bear more fruit, putting less energy into foliage.

Snip, cut, and pinch those herbs all summer for bushier, fuller plants.  Fertilize every other week.

For something different this year, try some birdhouse, dipper, loofah, and other hardshell or ornamental gourds.  Gourds are so easy to grow ... the seeds can be planted directly in the soil, and the hardy vines grow amazingly fast.  About the only requirements are lots of sunshine, and a sturdy support to climb.  I let them go where they want on a back fence, and they're so much fun.  Feed every couple of weeks, and you won't be disappointed!  It's amazing what you can do with the mature gourds, from making great bird houses, beautiful  gourd planters, or enjoy the intriguing  loofah gourd with its amazing sponge core!

As the summer progresses on into August, our main concerns will be watering, weeding, and watching out for pests and disease.  It gets so hot here in the Deep South, and I try to take care of these jobs early in the mornings.  Watering is a major concern during mid-summer.  Fruiting and flowering plants need at least an inch of water weekly, and if nature isn't providing the rainfall, we need to water frequently and thoroughly.  If you aren't able to water the entire lawn during the hot and dry periods, don't worry.  Brown grass isn't necessarily dead grass.  Droughts trigger dormancy, and a good rainfall will usually bring the lawn back to a lush green quickly.  It also helps the lawn to raise the cutting height on your mower.  Slightly taller grass helps shade the soil, so it retains moisture better.
Visit my  Garden Kitchen and pick up some easy recipes
for your fresh-from-the-garden produce!

   

Gardening Folklore

• Thank the person who has given flower plants to you, and they will not grow.
• To have sunflowers growing in your back yard will bring you good luck.
• If rows of sweet peas run north and south, the plants will blossom profusely.
• If you kill a dragonfly, you will have bad luck.
• Have more beautiful flowers by planting them in the light of the moon.
• Blow three times against a dandelion seed-ball and
  the number of seeds remaining will be the time of day.
• A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay.
  A swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon.
  A swarm of bees in July is not worth a fly.

Super Summery Links

• Preserving your Summer Blooms
  Flower-pressing basics from About.com.
• Preserving your Garden Bounty
  Almost everything you need to know about canning and freezing the fruits and veggies from your garden -- excellent site!
• Watermelon!
  Refreshing site from Bry-back Manor, all about that summer favorite.
• Die Squash Die!
  Plant too much squash again?  Of course you did!  A very humorous look at this common occurrence.
• Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Info Center
  Leaves of three, let them be ... here is help in identifying all of these painful plants, and a huge list of remedies.
• Easy Summer Grilling
  How to get the coals started, tips for grilling vegetables, chicken, and even desserts.
• Picnic & Grilling Safety Tips
  Before firing up the grill or packing that basket, check here for some very helpful tips on keeping your food fresh, and making the entire experience safer.
• Fireworks Safety
  The perfect site to visit, before you light up the explosives.
• Homemade Ice Cream Recipes!
  Go ahead ... get you one of those easy little freezers, pick out a recipe and enjoy the most delicious cold summer treat of all.
• Roadside America
  If you're planning a summer road trip, this is your online guide to offbeat attractions, such as The World's Largest Sycamore Stump, or The Purple Martin Capitol of the Nation.
• Sand Castle Central
  Going to the beach?  This site gives tips and tricks on building the best sand castles ever.

 

  "Dirty hands, iced tea, garden fragrances thick in the air
  and a blanket of color before me, who could ask for more?"
   ~ Bev Adams, Mountain Gardening by the Gardening Gal

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