Timi DeBusk
Master Gardener, Master Naturalist
August 2008
What do you say about gardening in July in record breaking heat? Protect yourself from the sun, conserve water where you can, enjoy the things that do thrive in this heat.
What does thrive in this heat you ask? The seasonal stars right now are Plumbago, Esperanza, Turk’s Cap, Pride of Barbados, Cosmos, Zinnias, Vinca, Sages & Salvias to name a few. Things that are past peak and looking like it are Columbine, Iris, Roses, Holly Ferns, and the more tender herbs.
This is not the time to have the picture perfect green, green lawn. Water your grass enough to keep it alive, but remember that water is a precious commodity and we should be using it wisely. Beds and trees and areas where soaker hoses work nicely and are the best use of your water.
Thanks to the expert research web surfing of fellow Master Gardener, Lisa Miller, I have found a very do-able rain water collection system that I think will work for me. As soon as I get my sources and "engineers" all in order, I will pass on the information to you. I know you say, "what rainwater", but it does not take a lot of rain real often to make a huge difference in your water conservation efforts. Rain water catchment is a buzz word that you will be hearing a lot in the future. If you only have one 55 gallon barrel at the run off point of your roof, you are doing something.
Your house plants love rain water. Have you ever noticed how green the grass looks right after a good rain? We think it is just the moisture that has made the difference, but rain water is not just any moisture. It has other benefits for our plants. You have heard the term "acid rain". Our soils here tend to be more alkaline and need more acid to balance the pH for healthy, happy plant life. Rain provides needed acid to our soils.
One other benefit of rain water collection, try washing your hair in it. You will be so amazed at the difference. Stay tuned for more on rain water collection.
I have people calling me a lot about planting trees. During the summer when trees are all leafed out and bearing fruit we get excited about having more trees. We see areas that need shade or color or we have trees that need replacing. This is not the time of year to put in new ones. It is too hot and dry for them to thrive. The perfect time is in the fall. You will not enjoy watching them leaf and bloom right away, but they will be working underground establishing their root systems and storing up for a great spring ‘coming out party’.
Patience is a gardener’s greatest asset. As a gardener you learn a lot about patience and faith. It takes great faith to put a little seed in the dirt with the hope that it will produce a healthy, beautiful plant. And it takes patience to wait while it performs its little miracle. But the joy that we feel when it does motivates us to expand our gardening efforts.
Figs are plentiful this time of year. Fig trees do so well in this area, everyone should have at least one. My fig tree is my best landscape specimen. It is the largest, prettiest fig tree I have ever seen. Yes, some things in our gardens are like our children, we think ours are the best, most beautiful. I hate seeing edible crops going to waste and I try to can or preserve by drying or freezing what is practical. This week I made "Strawberry Preserves" with my figs. It is so delicious. Tastes just like strawberry jam. Don’t get me wrong, I love the taste of figs and I eat all I can off the tree. My little Florida grandchildren come each summer and love swimming and being fed figs from the tree that is next to the pool. We think they are sweeter than candy. But this is one way to use figs to enjoy year round.
"Strawberry" Preserves
7 cups ripe figs – stems removed and can be peeled if skins are tough or blemished (mine were perfect, off of my perfect tree ;-) lol)
6 cups sugar
¼ cup lemon juice
4 - 3oz. pkgs of strawberry jello
½ cup water
Cook slowly in large kettle for 45 minutes – 1 hour stirring occasionally. During the cooking process, mash figs with potato masher.
Pack in sterile jars and seal or may be put in freezer containers and frozen.
Next month will be the month to plan your fall gardens. Fall in our area can be as wonderful as spring. On those hot days when you just can’t get out in the heat, kick back and think of what all you plan to plant in the fall. Keep the hummingbird feeders clean and full.
If you have enough grass to mow, keep the blades high. Water in early morning or late evening, NOT in the middle of the day. If you have learned anything from the soaring gas prices, it should be that we need to be more conservative with our natural resources before the powers that be price it out of the range of the little guys like you & me. We could live without oil, but could not live without water. Something to think about.
Happy gardening - Timi
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