Last Wednesday was the first \u201cofficial\u201d day of Summer.\u00a0 Actually, meterologists consider June 1 as the first day of summer.\u00a0 Astronomers consider June 20 (or 21\/22 depending on the year) as the first day of summer based on the position of the earth to the sun.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the longest day of the year.\u00a0 Every day, after that, will be a minute or two shorter until the Winter Solstice.\u00a0 On that day, all locations inside the Arctic circle will experience 24 hours of sunlight.\u00a0 Antarctica, on the other hand, will experience 24 hours of darkness.<\/p>\n
Our ancestors\u2014Celtic, Germanic, and Slavic\u2014welcomed the solstice with huge bonfires because they figured the fire would take energy from the sun to get them through autumn.<\/p>\n
Some traditions believe that jumping over a fire brought good fortune\u2014don\u2019t try this at home.<\/p>\n
As a gardener, summer means that I\u2019m just beginning to appreciate the bounty of my summer garden.\u00a0 My annual flowers are in full bloom; I\u2019ve gotten a handful of green beans and one baby squash\u2014even two cherry tomatoes!\u00a0 But that first slicing tomato seems like it\u2019s taking forever\u2026<\/p>\n
I\u2019m keeping an eye out for squash bug eggs about now and I\u2019ve already rinsed a few aphids off my Knock-Out rose.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got Japanese beetle traps ready to put up in the back corner of the yard to lure them away from the rose and crape myrtle in the front yard.<\/p>\n
By the way, be sure to have beetle traps on hand because Japanese beetles show up soon.\u00a0 The traps work by means of a \u201clure\u201d that attracts beetles, so be sure to place them at the OTHER side of the yard from what they\u2019re going after. \u00a0If a few do show up on some of your plants, spray with Captain Jack\u2019s Dead Bug Brew.\u00a0 It\u2019s a good organic product. So is Neem Oil.\u00a0 Be sure to spray about 8:30 at night to miss as many pollinators as possible\u2014bees and butterflies go home just before dark.<\/p>\n
Remember if you’re having a problem in your yard, we’re always here to help.<\/p>\n
Happy Summer!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"