Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Fair, hot (1, 2, 3) with storms (4, 5). Hot and humid (6, 7, 8, 9) with storms, cooler (10, 11). Hot and humid (12, 13, 14, 15, 16) with more storms (17, 18). Hot and humid returns (19, 20, 21,
22, 23, 24) with still more storms (25, 26); more hot and humid weather (27, 28, 29) with yet more storms (30, 31).
Full Moon: July’s Full Moon occurs on July 1st. Its name varied from Native American tribe-to-tribe and region-to-region but it has most commonly been referred to as Thunder Moon due to the many thunderstorms that usually occurred at this time of year (like this month!). Other tribes
called it Buck Moon because they would see a rapid growth of antlers on young bucks, Ripe Corn Moon because young corn begins to show on the stalks and ripen, or Hay Moon since hay tended to ripen as well.
Special Notes: Those Dog Days of Summer will be upon us starting Friday, July 3rd and will continue into August so get ready for some hot and humid weather!
Holidays: This year’s Fourth of July celebration falls on Saturday, July 4th but will be observed on Friday, July 3rd. On this most famous day in United States History, in 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution saying, "these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be,
free and independent states".
Remember to keep safety in mind as you plan for the big day. Use sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher when spending any time in the sun. Apply more frequently if swimming or perspiring. . If your fun includes boating this holiday, remember that alcohol and "boater’s hypnosis", which
can affect you after long periods exposed to the sun, glare, noise, and vibration can be deadly.
Give the old grill a thorough once-over before the big day, checking out all of the major components to make sure they are functioning properly and replace anything that looks questionable. And to avoid any last minute trips to the store, make sure to have a full tank of propane or plenty of
charcoal and charcoal lighter fluid on hand. Enjoy!
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 during this month. 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.
J. Gruber’s Thought For Today’s Living
"Do not regard liberty and freedom so lightly that you forget its value and take it for granted"
