Honey Do's for July

Here's list of things to do around the garden for July (this is for zone 7, adjust for your zone):

• Deadhead spent flowers to promote growth of new blooms. If you are saving seeds, let the spent flowers turn brown before cutting to ensure the seeds have matured enough to germinate.
• Pinch any suckers from tomato plants to focus growth on the fruits. Leave ones above the fruit to help shade them from the brutal July sun.
• Plant the pinched suckers in growing medium in 2-3 inch containers, keep moist and lightly shaded. The stems will take root and can be transplanted to the garden for a fall harvest.
• Harvest herbs before they begin to flower. That is when they contain the most of their essential oils. Pick in the morning before the sun heats up the leaves.
• The days between rain showers will seem to stretch on forever stressing out your plants in the summer heat. Make sure to water early in the morning or in the evening to prevent loosing it all to evaporation. Water deeply every few days to encourage roots to grow down instead of near the surface where they will dry out faster.
• Plants in containers will dry out faster than those in the ground. Check them daily; water as needed.
• Keep those weeds in check by preventing them from going to seed. Pull them out or chop the tops off with a garden hoe. Mulching around your plants makes it easier to pull out weeds and reduces water loss from evaporation.. 
• Check any houseplants spending the summer outdoors for insect damage or egg laying. Use a damp cloth to gently wipe the leaves top and bottom to remove any.
• Keep the birdbath cleaned and full of fresh water for our bug eating feathered friends. Clean out that hummingbird feeder at least once a week during the hot, hazy days of summer.

If the summer heat keeps you out of the garden, spend some time indoors planning your fall garden or cleaning up and organizing your potting shed from the spring planting frenzy. You'll be able to hit the garden running when the temperatures start to cool.

Happy Planting!

Plant Profiles: Eastern Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis L.)

Also known as: wild columbine, red-bell, Canada columbine, rock lily, red columbine

Plant Description:
Columbine is a native perennial known for its red and yellow hanging flowers and scalloped leaves. It grows in a variety of conditions ranging from riverbanks to woodland edges. This plant is one of the first to bloom in February through April here in the eastern U.S. (zone 7) and is an important source of nectar for hummingbirds and bees.

Eastern Columbine will grow to about 2 feet tall with 3 foot stalks of multiple red and yellow flowers that hang downward. The compound leaves are divided into three rounded lobes. Aquilegia canadensis will readily hybridize with other members of the genus. Self-seeding.

Plant Culture:
Light: part-shade to light sun
Soil: tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions
Water:  drought tolerant
Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Propagation:  seeds must be stratified; transplants easily, water until established


Plant History:

The name Aquilegia comes from the Latin aquila which means "the eagle" in reference to the flower petals which resemble an eagle's talon. Native Americans reportedly rubbed the crushed seeds on men's hands as a love charm. They also prepared infusions to treat hearth trouble, kidney problems, headaches, fever and a wash for poison ivy.



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Why Plant Wildflowers?

The buzzing of bees, the sweet scent of blossoms, the vibrant colors? Who doesn't want a meadow in their yard?

But wildflowers do much more than add beauty to the landscape. They help conserve water, reduce mowing costs, provide habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife, protect the soil and save money on fertilizer and pesticides. And as Lady Bird Johnson said, native plants "give us a sense of where we are in this great land of ours."

North American native plants, defined as those that existed here without human introduction, are disappearing at an alarming rate due to human activities, such as urban development, agribusiness and the introduction of invasive species. The loss of native plant communities has reduced wildlife habitat and the genetic diversity necessary for balanced ecosystems.

Unlike many plants available at garden centers and home improvement stores, native plants introduced into landscape plantings are hardy, less susceptible to pests and diseases and unlikely to escape and become invasive. With properly selected native plants, it may not be necessary to modify soil characteristics at all to have thriving gardens. The great variety of plants native to any region give gardeners options that work well in any type of garden design. Because maintaining native plants requires less work, they provide excellent choices for large commercial landscapes as well
as residential gardens.

Of course, native plants have other benefits. They are a potential source of food and of traditional and new medicines.

Once your wildflowers are established, you will not only save time, energy and money, but also preserve a sense of place and regional identity.

Where to begin? Browse some of our posts on gardening with native plants.