Was that a Breeze or is Someone Shaking the Bushes?
By Mona L. Hayden

    Another summer almost gone. I’ve noticed that time really does fly as I get older. Looking back on the long summer days of my youth, Christmas always seemed light years away from summertime. Now I’m almost afraid to take a nap because I haven’t done any holiday shopping yet!

    Like July, August is a tough month on our gardens, not to mention our dispositions. We’ve survived the bulk of our hot summer season and it’s somehow easier to tolerate the remaining humid days knowing that mowing, weeding, and watering chores will soon be behind us. On a bittersweet note, so will the fresh vegetables and fruit, the dazzling annuals, and the blooms of the season.

    Usually by this time of year, I’m worn out from dragging a water hose around like an appendage as I swat at mosquitoes and wasps circling my head. The humidity makes me feel like I’m walking through Jell-O, and as luck would have it, it’s the sugar-free kind!  It’s during these times I daydream about the cool mountain breezes and flowing rivers in Montana, where I try to spend some quiet time each September. This is my ultimate reward for being so heat-intolerant. With the blowing winds and mountain views tugging at my heartstrings, I find it easier to water and weed just one more time today.

    Before I start planning for my annual trip, I want to spend some time in the shade with a tall glass of iced coffee preparing for fall gardens and cooler weather. I always try to integrate shrubs and plants that will generate winter interest as well as those with good lines because naked trees need to look their best. Don’t forget to locate and start preparing a plot of ground for cool-season vegetables. Also, next month is when you can begin amending your lawn with new sod or seed to correct any mistakes or to just fill in bare spots, so add that to your list. The upcoming rains will help the grass become established and firmly rooted before drifting off to sleep for the winter months.

    The dead of summer, with not even a leaf moving, is a good time to review the successes of your summer garden and make notes of these. Write down what plants bit the bullet and makes plans to replace those this fall. Don’t forget that a good fall cleaning will make springtime chores much easier as well as provide a beautiful landscape during the wintertime.  And just because it’s August doesn’t mean summer planting is completely over, especially if you find a good buy on plants that you can pot up and over-winter. Most nurseries are ready to move out some plants to eliminate watering twice a day this month. You can get some great deals now.
If you really want to take advantage of a season closeout, drive over to Yak’s Nursery in Farmerville and make a deal. Yak’s is offering 20-30% off just about everything at his nursery to move plants out for his fall inventory. See their ad in this issue or call them at 368-3992 for details and directions.

    Recently, I was whining about the wasps that guard my doorway when a wise older person mentioned that I should paint the ceilings of my porch blue. My grandparents did this, as well as most everyone else during that era, but I assumed it was just fashionable at the time. I never dreamed it was a decoy! Seems the blue ceiling mimics the blue sky so wasps don’t attempt to nest there. Now, is there any other information you older/wiser folks are holding back from me?  If so, please put down this magazine and call me right now!

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