“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald

 “I drifted into a summer-nap under the hot shade of July, serenaded by a cicadae lullaby, to drowsy-warm dreams of distant thunder.” –Terri Guillemets

“Summer romances end for all kinds of reasons. But when all is said and done, they have one thing in common: They are shooting stars-a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity. And in a flash, they’re gone.” – Nicholas Sparks

 “July is a blind date with summer.” – Hal Borland

 “Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”- John Lubbock

“They talk about big skies in the western United States, and they may indeed have them, but you have never seen such lofty clouds, such towering anvils, as in Iowa in July.”

― Bill Bryson, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

IN THE JULY GARDEN

The days of July may be hot and humid but it is the month to plant Pole Beans, Lima Beans, Pumpkins, Winter Squash .   It is also the month to make sure you remove as many weeds as possible before they go to seed and double in population next year.

Continue to remove spent blooms from roses and prune canes as needed to control growth. Both of these practices will promote fall flowering.

Don't worry about fertilizing roses, however. Let them take a little break during the heat of the summer.

If you cut roses or other flowers for bouquets, do so in the early morning, when it's cool. The flowers will last longer after being cut.

Try not to let herbs such as basil, mint, and oregano bloom. Flower formation changes the herb¿s flavor to a less-than-ideal state. Keep pinching the plants back to keep them fresh.

Don't let ripe vegetables rot on the vine or on the ground around your plants. They attract pests and can harbor diseases.

Some vegetables will stop producing in the heat. If they're dying, remove them. Otherwise, keep them watered and wait for production to resume in the fall.

National Postal Worker Day

National Anisette Day

National Eat Your Beans Day

Independence Day (USA)

National Apple Turnover Day

National Fried Chicken Day

National Macaroni Day

National Freezer Pop Day

National Sugar Cookie Day

National Kitten Day

National Cheer Up The Lonely Day

National Different Colored Eyes Day

National Beans ‘N’ Franks Day

National Grand Marnier Day

National Give Something Away Day

National Corn Fritters Day

National Lottery Day

National Sour Candy Day

National Words With Friends Day *

National Fortune Cookie Day

National Be Someone Day

National Penuche Fudge Da

National Vanilla Ice Cream Day

National Cousins Day

National Merry-Go-Round Day

National Aunt and Uncle’s Day

National Love is Kind Day

National Milk Chocolate Day

National Lasagna Day

National Cheesecake Day

National Mutt Day