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August 16, 2000

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The Beauty Of Bugs...
My two-year-old son Jake and I walked out onto the deck one night last week and he looked up at me and asked, "Mommy, what's that noise?"  I stopped to think for a moment and then it dawned on me.  It must be the cicadas.  So I look at him and start making this crazy noise (you know, like a cicada makes) and he looks at me and replies, "Yeah that noise."  He was very intrigued and wanted to find one so off we went to satisfy his curiosity.  Let me just say that I have never been fond of "bugs".  They are OK from a distance but I certainly do not walk around the yard picking them up.  To think that we are searching for one and that I may have to pick it up is a little unnerving for me.  Anyway we spotted one alive and clinging to the deck.  So we watched him for a couple of minutes and when he did not perform for us my two-year-old decided it was time to move on.  Shoo!  Lucky me! Didn't have to touch the bug!  The funny part about this whole situation is that Jake was so fascinated by how the cicada looked.  His fascination made me stop and think that so many times when I am working in the garden I am just going through the motions, especially this time of the year when it is so miserably hot out.  I really need to take more time to enjoy what I have.  Maybe even the bugs!

Is anyone else ready for fall?  I have had quite enough of this heat!  Bring on the cooler weather!


~ Shelly
               

Dreams Of Spring...
Nothing signals the return to gardening after a cold winter than the appearance of flowering bulbs.  We're a long way from there right now but Savvygardeners are collecting bulb catalogs in anticipation of fall planting.  

We always have big plantings of tulips and daffodils but have learned to experiment every year with some lesser known bulbs.  Some we like and plant every year.  Others don't work out and become memories.  As you peruse your bulb catalogs over the next four to six weeks make a commitment to plant something new and unusual.  When the ground warms next spring you will be so pleased with your foresight.


Waste Not, Want Not...
Most of us are fairly conscientious when it come to preventing drips in our faucets and other indoor plumbing.  For some reason however we are ready to ignore dribbles and trickles in our garden hoses and spigots.  Unless those leaks are falling right where moisture is needed (not likely) it is simply a waste of water.  Depending on the rate of the leak it is entirely possible to waste hundreds of gallons of water every day.  In most cases it's a matter of simply tightening hose connections and fittings.  Applying Teflon tape to threaded connectors will stop more stubborn leaks.  It may also be time to replace that old leaky hose altogether.  

Saving
Sunflower Seeds...
You don't have to be a Kansas Savvygardener to appreciate the beauty of sunflowers.  For those of you who want to harvest your sunflower seeds and don't know when they're ready just look for these tell-tale signs:
  • The flower's head is droopy and faces the ground.
  • Most of the petals have fallen off.
  • The birds are starting to enjoy the seeds.

Gently shake the head of the flower and the seeds will fall off.  Store them in a nice dry place for planting next spring!


Wait Not,
Weed Not?

 

It just isn't fair.  You've toiled all spring and into summer to get your garden looking great.  It's hot.  It's humid.  You want to rest and enjoy the fruits of your labor.  But a close inspection of your garden reveals the return of an old nemesis - weeds!

When the flowers and vegetables peak and subsequently slow down because of summer's stresses weeds take advantage.  Use a hoe or cultivator when the weeds are still small and your work will be minimized.  Some weeds, when left to grow too big, will establish deep roots.  Be careful trying to pull these stubborn guys up.  If their roots have intertwined with those of your flowers or vegetables you may accidentally uproot them as well.


Wake Up Call For Dormant Turf...
If all or parts of your cool season grass have gone dormant this summer you should prepare for a fall comeback now by starting a deep watering program.  Make sure your lawn gets a morning soak twice a week and you will be rewarded with stronger, more lush growth this fall. 

What's Hot On The Hotline...
Severe thunderstorms have rolled through the area over the past few weeks.  Many Savvygardeners were spared the wrath of Mother Nature while others took a direct hit.  High winds have left many with a yard full of branches or an entire tree wiped out.  Questions have come into the Hotline on repairing storm damage.  The answers are in this week's Hotline...

Garden Plans For You To Enjoy...
If you have big landscaping plans for this fall it's time to start making decisions on which plants you will purchase and where they will be placed.  As you do your shopping try to imagine how long you will live in your current home.  The average American family moves every five years.  If you think you might move within five years consider buying the biggest plants you can afford.  If you buy small you won't be around to fully appreciate your garden when it matures.

Finally...
"It's the flock, the grove, that matters.  Our responsibility is to species, not to specimens; to communities, not to individuals."

~ Sara Stein, 1998, Noah's Garden

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