"Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June"
Al Bernstein (1950- )

Full Moon: June’s Full Moon that will occur on Tuesday, June 2nd and has been long-known as Rose Moon and for very good reason. Roses start to show their gorgeous blooms at the beginning of the month! It has also been given the name Strawberry Moon because during June, the first strawberries of the season become ripe for the picking (and eating!).

Special Notes: Here comes Summer! The Summer Solstice will occur on Sunday, June 21st which also happens to be Father’s Day! Remember to honor your favorite student this month when he or she graduates from high school or college. This is a major milestone for them so mark their great achievement with a special event or memorable gift.

Holidays: Celebrate Flag Day on Saturday, June 14th by proudly flying ‘Old Glory’.  The first day of Ramadan begins at sunset on Wednesday, June 17th. Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 21st so plan a special day for dear old dad. A nice dinner out, tickets to a movie or his favorite sporting event, or just spending some quality time with him will show him he is appreciated for all that he did to help you become who you are.

The Garden: Continue to keep the garden adequately watered (that is, if June’s forecasted wet weather is not enough!). Expect plants to do well with all of the extra rain in July. Lawns should get 1.5 inches of water a week. If Mother Nature is stingy, water deeply once or twice a week but NOT daily. Here’s a good tip: spray the underside of your mower with a thin coating of vegetable oil to prevent grass from sticking. Watch for insects; wash them or pick them off plants before they can lay eggs and multiply. Use fungicide where diseases usually are a problem, especially on roses. 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

"Be fair in your criticism of others, be more so in that of yourself"