"I realize that patriotism is not enough.
I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone"
Edith Cavell (1865-1915)

Full Moon: July’s Full Moon will occur on July 4th. Native Americans called it Thunder Moon due to the high number of thunderstorms during the month, some quite severe in many areas, that occur during the month. It has also been called Buck Moon given the rapid growth of antlers on young bucks in July and Hay Moon and Ripe Corn since both hay tends to ripen and because of the appearance of young corn on the stalks.

Special Notes: The ‘Dog Days of Summer’ begin on Friday, July 3rd and will continue into mid-August.

Holidays: July 4 - Independence Day falls on Saturday in 2020. Celebrate safely and enjoy the holiday while remaining cautious during this pandemic. If spending time outdoors, use plenty of sunscreen, applying it frequently to yourself and the kids, especially if swimming or engaging in strenuous activities like sports or hiking.

The Garden: 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. During the dry summer months, remember to mow the lawn when it is high and mow less often. Taller grass withstands drought better because its blades shade the soil. Allow roses to rest in July and August. Do not fertilize, but continue spraying, and give them a light pruning in July to encourage new fall growth. Repot houseplants that have been kept outdoors if roots start to crowd their containers. If you have to divide plants, give them a chance to recover from the disruption to their root system by keeping them in the shade for at least a week.

The Farm: Best for planting root crops (14, 15); weeding and stirring the soil (21, 22); planting above-ground crops (1, 27, 28); harvesting all crops (2, 3, 6, 7, 8); the best days for setting hens and incubators (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31); the slaughtering and butchering of meat (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26); transplanting (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26); the weaning of all small animals and livestock (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 29, 30, 31); harvesting and storing grains (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19).

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."