Gardening Highlights for July
Article & photos submitted by Sue Wilson of the Gibson County Master Gardeners
pollinators. Also, the hummingbirds Why are we in love with July as have established their residency back at gardeners? Some would say it’s the 4th of the red hummingbird feeders that they July, honoring the birth of our nation with come back to each year. Like the backyard barbecues. If you are fortunate enough to have monarchs, the miles they travel north is a backyard pool, this is the time to enjoy, because now mind- boggling. Always remember that it’s four parts the heat of summer has ramped up. water and one part white sugar to make What comes to my mind first, is that their food. Cook the mixture until it is the magical sunflower is ablaze with completely dissolved. If your feeder is in golden color full of seeds of all sizes for full sun, it should be changed every day. the birds of all sizes. Of course, the If you have partial shade, every other day pollinators are abuzz on them. Now we is fine and in full shade, every three days can slow down a little on the bird seed is recommended to add new food. we buy and let them indulge in nature at Remember that hummingbirds are its best. If you’d like, you can place the territorial, so if you can have more than head of a sunflower on a plate and enter one feeder. Never buy pre-made nectar it in the Gibson County Fair, plus any with the red dye added. Look for feeders other beautiful flowers or vegetables you that are easy to clean and fill. have grown. Blooming hydrangea July is when the hydrangea, of so The Master Gardeners have a fair booth many colors and shapes of blooms, are in their glory. It concentrating on teaching children and adults as much is pretty normal to have 40-50 blooms on a bush as they about having successful gardens whether they are grow wider and taller. There are flat and ball blooms. flowers or vegetables. The Master Gardeners also are The asters and daylillies that only boom a few maintaining the large flower boxes at the fairgrounds. weeks are showing their color everywhere in By now the monarch butterflies are back gracing our landscapes. Over the years, so many colors and shapes landscapes, flitting from flower to flower like the other have developed into many beautiful specimens. In some towns and cities, there are daylily organizations that only focus on this one plant. Even though variety is the spice of life, one lily is my favorite – the Stella De Oro, which has golden blooms from spring until a hard freeze. A great companion plant for this lily is the Shasta Daisy, which is in full glory in July. Because the daisy has white petals with A daylily gold centers, they look beautiful side by side. These two perennials are the “biggest bang for you buck” because in just two years you can divide them and plant elsewhere in your Call Steve Snodgrass of landscapes or share with other gardeners.
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July 2024
Small Town Living