Tornado Watch: The Almanack sees significant tornado activity for the Mid-Atlantic Region in July (the 7th through the 12th, the 20th to the 23rd, and on 29th, 30th, and 31st.

Full Moon: Native Americans had names for every moon that helped them to characterize weather, planting, and hunting conditions for their particular geographical region. July’s Full Moon, which occurs on July 22nd, has had many names attributed to it. The most common are Thunder Moon because of the increased number of thunderstorms, some quite severe, that plagued many regions during this month, Buck Moon due the rapid growth of antlers on young bucks in July, Ripe Corn Moon because of the appearance of young corn on the stalks, and Hay Moon since hay tended to ripen as well.

Special Notes: The Dog Days of Summer begin on Wednesday, July 3rd so get ready for some hot, hazy, and humid days. On this most famous day in United States History, July 4th, in 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution saying, "these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, free and independent states".

Holidays: Celebrate the 4th safely. If planning to be outdoors for an extended period of time (boating, swimming, sports, etc.), remember to take along sunscreen with a rating of at least SPF 15 or higher. Apply frequently to yourself and children especially if swimming or perspiring. Enjoy the day! If planning a cookout, check out the grill thoroughly and every aspect of its operation when you replace the propane tank. Check all hoses, couplings, gauges, and the burner jets for undue wear, malfunction, or clogs. Be sure that all of the grill surfaces are well-scrubbed and clean of any grease. Not only will this prevent a fire but it will greatly improve the taste of the food you’re grilling.

The Garden: Continue to keep the garden adequately watered (that is, if July’s forecasted wet weather is not enough!). Expect plants to do well with all of the extra rain in July. Be sure that all tall annuals and perennials are securely staked so that they will remain upright during the afternoon thunderstorms that are so common for this time of year. Tick-proof your yard this summer. Deer are likely to bring ticks into your space so plant species that deer do not eat like the thorny barberry, bugleweed, forsythia, foxglove, and most needle-leaved conifers. If you have to divide plants, give them a chance to recover from having their roots disturbed by keeping them in the shade for at least a week. Always remember that when working outside in hot sun for any prolonged period of time, be sure to take salt tablets, drink plenty of water, and take frequent breaks in the shade.