Non-Profit Internet Source for News, Events, History, & Culture of Northern Frederick & Carroll County Md./Southern Adams County Pa.

 

June 2013

"One father is worth a hundred schoolmasters "
George Herbert (1593-1633)

Mid-Atlantic weather watch: Severe storms in the northern part of the region with showers in the south (1,2,3. Fair and warm (4,5,6) with more showers and storms (7,8). Fair and cooler (9,10) with more storms and even cooler (11,12). Fair and mild (13,14) with yet more showers and storms (15,16). Fair weather and very warm (17,18,19,20,21) turning cooler with severe storms (22,23). Fair and very warm (24,25,26,27,28,29,30).

Tornado Watch: The Almanack sees some tornado activity in the Mid-Atlantic Region from June 1st to June 3rd and June 22nd and 3rd.

Full Moon: June's Full Moon that will occur on Monday, the 23rd has often been referred to by many Native American Tribes as the Full Rose Moon because roses start to bloom at the beginning of the month. It has also been called the Strawberry Moon because the first strawberries of the season become ripe for the picking at this time.

Special Notes: Welcome the start of Summer when the Summer Solstice occurs on Friday, June 21st. June is graduation month for many students so be sure to honor your "favorite student" with a special gift or a memorable event.

Holidays: Flag Day is celebrated on Friday, June 14th. For guidance on how to properly display ‘Old Glory', go to www.ushistory.org.

Don't forget to remember dear old Dad on his special day, Father's Day, which falls on Sunday, June 16th. Do something really special for the guy who a) paid for 4 years of college, b) paid for a really nice wedding, c) helped you finance that new (fill in the blank), or d) All of the above!

The Garden: Start your herb garden now and plant basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, savory, mint, coriander, parsley, or chives. Most herbs need no fertilizer and little water, so watermonly during prolonged dry spells. Avoid mulching herbs as mulch keeps the soil too moist. If fungus develops on your herbs during wet weather, cut them back to encourage healthy new growth. The best time to harvest most herbs is just before flowering, when the leaves contain the maximum essential oils. Cut herbs early in the morning when the skies are sunny. It's not too late to start warm-season crops such as corn, beans, tomatoes, squash, peppers, and eggplant.

Plant or sow summer annuals such as nasturtiums, vinca, verbena, geraniums, phlox, marigolds, lobelia, impatiens, cosmos, sunflowers, zinnias, and alyssum.

Feed annuals and remove spent flowers to promote another round of flowers. Feed roses after each bloom cycle, water regularly, and remove any spent flowers. Additional pruning may be required in June of fast-growing plants, such as juniper, privet and yew. This will help promote new growth and also maintain a desirable shape during the growing season. Cut back perennials like Shasta daisy, black-eyed Susan, cone flower, and lavender after first bloom to encourage a second round of flowers in the Fall. Cut back fuchsia, geranium, and margarite to encourage branching. Stake tall, floppy flowers: foxglove, yarrow, bachelor's buttons, carnations, and delphiniums.

J. Grubers' Thought for Today's Living:

“Some students think of ‘graduation’ as an end of school days; others prefer the word ‘commencement’ as the start of an opportunity to learn even more”.

Index of Past Month's Entries