My Garden Notebook - July 2012

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Note: We had a severe thunderstorm Friday evening that left many without power, including us. With temperatures reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it was an interesting adventure. Finally, our power was restored last evening. I was unable to publish this post on the 1st of the month as I usually do because of the power outage, so here it is.

stats


Gardening Zone: 7a
May High Temperature: 98 degrees F
May Low Temperature: 60 degrees F


Precipitation: 1.94 inches


We have had little rain this month, and things are looking dry. I keep hoping for a long day of rain. Some of the plants are beginning to look stressed even though I water them in the morning. It is usually the newly planted ones that have a hard time in this dry heat.

wildlife


The blackbirds have been very busy chasing away the songbirds from the feeders, so I  adjusted the weight on one feeder to close when they land. And I changed out some of the sunflower seeds to safflower seeds. This seems to be working well. They still come, but not in droves.



I have been attempting to get a photo of the heron that I often see at the nearby lake, and I was able to get some nice shots.

Great Blue Heron

I often see a few Eastern Box Turtles in the yard in the summer, and here was my first sighting.

Eastern Box Turtle

And the chipmunks have been very busy cleaning up the mess made by the birds around the feeder.

Chipmunk

 I have been trying to get a photo of a dragonfly or a damselfly for a very long time, and I found my luck.

Blue Damselfly

what's blooming


So much is blooming now, and there are still some flowering perennials in bud form.

Madonna Lily

Echinacea is one of my favorites.

Echinacea - PowWow White

Echinacea - Kim's Knee High

I wish gladioli bloomed longer.

Gladiolus - Scarlet

Yarrow is even beautiful when the blooms fade.

Achillea millefolium - Yarrow, moonshine

Achillea millefolium - Yarrow, paprika

Soon, there will be Susans!

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum'

For several years, I battled the Japanese beetles as they nibbled and nibbled on my roses, impatiens, cherry trees, raspberries, bean plants, and other plants. In the late spring, I spread Milky Spore disease around the areas where I see them each summer. And I use the traps when there are a lot of them. Last year and this year, I do not need to use the traps because there are not enough to be trapped. However, there are a couple of areas that I have seen them. They seem to love roses.

Japanese beetles on rose bloom

After this photo was taken, I grabbed a bucket with soapy water and knocked these into it. The birds help by eating a lot of them as well.



In the garden:


Swiss chard, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, squash, zucchini, beans

Cucumbers - Miss Pickler Hybrid

Roma Tomato

Bell Pepper - California Wonder

Crookneck Squash

Swiss Chard

The Swiss chard will not last much longer in this heat. I have been making soups and salads with it.



completed chores


sowed bean seeds
sowed okra seeds
edged planting beds with empire edging
planted remaining calibrachoa in planters
added more echinacea to perennial bed
removed snowpea plants



chores for July


sow next round of bean seeds
continue edging planting beds with empire edging
feed pepper plants with Epsom salts
feed tomato plants with compost
check underside of squash leaves for squash bug eggs and remove
prune tomato plants
clean out bird nests


inspirations

Patio and Perennial Bed

After working hard in the yard and garden, my husband and I often sit and chat on the patio above. It is a nice break to sit here and see all that we have done. I am inspired by all of nature, and photographing it often is such a joy and a pleasure. Recently, I made some of my images available for greeting cards and postcards. I am still adding to the portfolio, but there are some images of blooms, birds, and other wildlife on the page.


Photography Note Cards


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I will be linking this post to the following blogs:


Helen of The Patient Gardener hosts End of Month View. This monthly meme is where garden bloggers share their garden views for the end of the month.

Also, Town Mouse Country Mouse hosts First Views. This monthly meme offers an opportunity for garden bloggers to share their garden first views for the month.


The Gardening Blog hosts Garden Bloggers Harvest Day on the 5th of every month. See what others are harvesting all over the world.

© copyright 2012 Michelle A. Potter