"What dreadful hot weather we have!
It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance"
Jane Austen (1775-1817)

Full Moon: August’s full moon will occur on August 3rd. Because of the many fruits and vegetables that ripen during the month, many Native American tribes called it Fruit Moon or referred to as Ripe Moon. And since August 11th marks the end of the ‘Dog Days of Summer’, it has also been called Dog Moon as well.

Holidays: Where did the Summer go? Labor Day is right around the corner so enjoy the summer while it lasts! If planning outdoor activities such as going to the beach, boating, or in your own backyard, barbequing on the grill, be sure to include plenty of water and sun screen!

The Garden: August is not too late to sow Portulaca (moss rose). They will bloom in about three weeks from seed. If you choose to water your lawn, do so only when wilted or discolored. Think about potting herbs you plan to move indoors for the winter. Don’t move them in just yet but get them accustomed to their containers early. Rosemary, thyme, and tarragon are the best candidates for this. To encourage more flowers, azaleas should be trimmed after they bloom in the spring and before the end of August. Stop feeding trees and shrubs after mid-August. You don’t want to promote new growth that will not have time to fully mature before winter sets in.

The Farm: Best for planting root crops (10, 11, 12); weeding and stirring the soil (17, 18); planting above-ground crops (23, 24, 25); harvesting all crops (3, 4); the best days for setting hens and incubators (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31); the slaughtering and butchering of meat (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 30, 31); transplanting (18, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24); the weaning of all small animals and livestock (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31); harvesting and storing grains (11, 12, 13, 14, 5, 16, 17).

J. Gruber’s Thought For Today’s Living

"Congratulating oneself is not the best evidence of success"