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Tuesday, June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020 ode to June and pass the hotdogs

Bristly Locust flowers

Perfect June weather is like a dream, a glimpse of heaven, balm for the mind and body. The last few days have been just that perfect and there are more perfect days ahead. The birds are singing, and baby animals are everywhere. And oh, the flowers.  Perfect roses and nodding poppies, pillars of clematis and plump swags of wisteria.  Mock orange and weigela, bellflowers and evening primrose, red geraniums and purple petunias.  Sweet pink bristly locust and creamy ninebark dancing with bees. 

This is the month to remember in August, and in February.  The garden at the cusp of maturity but still fresh and unjaded. Skies deep blue, golden sunshine and gentle breezes, sweet smells and sounds, the taste of strawberries. Cottonwood fairies floating in the air. Thunderstorms briefly breaking quiet nights with rumbles and flashes, the smell of rain hitting the ground.  June, I love June.

I can go out and weed in the morning or evening without being too hot and even sit basking in the sun. The must do work, the planting deadlines, the garden prep is mostly done.  It’s now maintenance and little artistic projects for the most part, although with the must do chores done, I could tackle a bigger project.  I can wander happily over the property with my camera capturing dragonflies on reeds and butterflies on flowers.  Or catching the sun hitting that flower in the most perfect way.

Many times I just sit, mesmerized by June, day dreaming and thinking. Waiting for a new flower to bloom, an unusual bird to stop by, the deer staring at me to move first.  Being still, trying to remember it all, savoring the moments of contentment.  June, often compared to a blushing bride but more a flirting free spirit dancing barefoot.  June makes you love it.

Ninebark flowers


Things about June you may not know

Did you know that no other month in the same year starts with the same day of the week as June?  This year June started on Monday.  

June in every year always ends on the same day of the week that March does. That is Tuesday this year.

In old English June was called Lioa pronounced  leethuh, originally from the Latin word Lunius, meaning “of Luno”.  The J sound/letter was adopted in English in the 1600’s. Luno/Juno was the wife of Jupiter, and the goddess of marriage and fertility.

Most women in the northern hemisphere are at their most fertile time in June. A baby is born in March from such a conception and would have optimal survival chances in most areas.

June used to be a popular name for girls. It was the 39th most popular girls name in 1925.  June Cleaver, remember her? It fell out of favor for a while but is once again a popular name for a baby girl.

June only has 10 days of “calendar summer” but September has 21.

June has the longest day of the year, June 20th this year, which is known as summer solstice.


Happy Father’s Day, Sunday June 21, 2020 to all of you gardening fathers



Coffee in the garden

I don’t know why people continue to believe that the answer to most garden problems lies in their kitchen. Home remedies are extremely popular and clickbait garden sites continue to feature them regardless of whether they are effective or even safe. There is a popular myth circulating right now that I’m going to discuss: using coffee and coffee grounds in the garden.

Literally thousands of school science projects have been done where coffee was used to water plants with a control group of plants watered with plain water. In almost every case the student found that plants watered with coffee did not grow as well as plants that didn’t receive coffee. Most scientific research done on the effect of caffeine on plants supports the idea that caffeine inhibits the growth of plants and may inhibit or prevent seed germination.

Don’t take your cold coffee outside and pour it on your plants unless you have no other source of water. The chances are it will stunt the plants growth. Remember what your mother said coffee would do to you when you wanted to drink it as a teen? She was probably right.

What about using coffee grounds in the garden or compost pile?  If the grounds aren’t more than 20% of the compost pile you are probably fine. Using the grounds in the garden directly around plants is probably not a good choice. Coffee grounds still contain caffeine, although not as much as cold coffee. Some people think coffee grounds make a good mulch, but in addition to the caffeine problem the grounds can mat down and prevent water and oxygen from getting into the soil.

Coffee grounds are not that acidic, and it takes a lot of anything acidic to raise soil pH, so using coffee grounds to raise soil pH is pretty useless. It would take inches and inches of grounds to raise the pH one point and the caffeine in those grounds may make plant growth impossible.

There is a small amount of nitrogen in coffee grounds when its first applied to soil. But other sources of nitrogen are better and safer for plants. Coffee grounds have also been found to kill earthworms, which gardeners don’t want to do.  They may also alter normal soil microorganisms.

Coffee grounds do not deter ants or other pests either. There’s no reason to collect the coffee grounds from restaurants or your workplace as they are NOT that beneficial for the garden. Your household coffee grounds can safely go to the compost pile but pour the cold coffee down the drain.

More reading


Rose chafer beetles

It’s June and that means it’s time for the rose chafer beetle invasion.  If you live on sandy soil your garden may be particularly hard hit. The name rose chafer is misleading. While they are very attracted to rose flowers, they’ll eat the leaves and flowers on many kinds of plants.

Rose chafer beetles are tan, sometimes with a greenish cast, with reddish orange legs and short antennae.  They are about a ½ inch long when mature and are strong fliers.  In June they emerge from the soil where they have been pupating and begin feeding on everything in sight.  Plants are sometimes covered with the beetles.

Damage to plants is mainly cosmetic; the plants do recover when the beetles stop feeding and die, near the end of June.  But the loss of flowers and the sight of leaves with only the veins remaining make many gardeners ready to fight.  In June lots of chewed up leaves and flowers may mean a rose chafer invasion is taking place.

For those who grow grapes, rose chafers mean more than cosmetic damage.  Grapes are generally blooming at the time the rose chafer emerges and the hungry beetles love to eat grape flowers and buds, which means the loss of the grape crop.

The life cycle of the rose chafer begins when adult beetles lay eggs in sandy soil in June.  Tiny grubs soon hatch and burrow deeper into the soil.  Unlike the European chafer beetle grub, the rose chafer grub does not damage turf grass roots.  It grows all summer, and then goes deep into the soil to rest for winter.  In the spring grubs move toward the surface, eat for a short time then turn into pupae for a couple of weeks, before emerging from the soil in June to start the cycle over.

Since female rose chafer beetles prefer to lay eggs in sandy soil, higher numbers of the beetles are found in gardens planted on sandy soil.  But the beetles can fly quite a distance to feed.

To control rose chafers gardeners can hand pick the beetles, dropping them into a container of soapy water.  Shaking a plant lightly will often dislodge dozens of the beetles.  On sturdy plants a hand vacuum can be used with the dirt cup full of beetles emptied into soapy water.  

Common garden insecticides will kill the beetles. But insecticides will need to be re-applied after each heavy rain and every 10-14 days.  Systemic insecticides, like those found in rose care products, will work but the beetle has to take a bite of the plant before it is poisoned, so some damage continues to occur. 
Rose Chafer beetles
credit Dabunski, Flixr

Whenever using a pesticide, read and follow the label directions for mixing and applying the product exactly. Make sure the plants you want to protect and the insects you want to kill are listed on the label. Different insects or different plants can have different application and mixing instructions.

Plants could be covered with row cover material while the beetles are heavy.  It must be securely anchored to the ground, so beetles don’t crawl under it.  Grapes though, need to have visits from pollinators to make fruit so a row cover won’t work.  Pesticides may also kill some pollinators but are the best option for grapes if beetle numbers are high.

Some early studies by the USDA have found that spraying the kaolin clay based product called Surround® on grape vines helped repel rose chafer beetles.  That product could also be sprayed on trees and shrubs being eaten by rose chafers but be aware that it gives sprayed plants a whitewashed appearance.

There is a lure scent that has been developed for rose chafers that can be used in Japanese beetle traps.  If you use a product like this put it far away from the plants you want to protect.  Otherwise it will draw more rose chafers to the area which may feed on plants before entering the trap.

One thing you do not want to do is to encourage your chickens or other birds to eat the beetles.  Rose chafer beetles contain a toxin that can sicken or kill birds and small animals. That’s why they are so abundant and damaging; they are not eaten by other wild things.

The good news is that the invasion is short lived.  By the end of June in most areas the adult rose chafer beetles are gone, leaving behind eggs for next year’s beetle crop.

Hawkweeds

There are two types of hawkweed, yellow, (Heiracium caespitosum) and orange, (Heiracium aurantiacum).  They are considered separate species although there is really very little difference other than color.  Hawkweeds are also referred to as Indian Paintbrushes, although that name is also given to other wildflowers.  Hawkweed begins blooming about a month after dandelions, but is generally better tolerated for some reason as a turf weed.  It is not uncommon to see large patches of hawkweed that people have mowed around rather than over. 

Hawkweed is a perennial plant that is quite common in sunny fields, low maintenance lawns and along roadsides.  It prefers dry, low fertility soils.  It is usually found in patches because it spreads by rhizomes as well as seed.    Strangely the two colors of hawkweed rarely exist in the same patch or even in the same general area.

Hawkweed forms a low basal cluster of leaves close to the ground.  The leaves are long rounded ovals with hairy edges and a prominent lighter vein down the middle. The plant sends up slender flower stalks densely covered in dark hairs that are 12-24 inches high. There may be a few small leaves along the stalk.  Yellow hawkweed tends to be slightly taller than the orange hawkweed.

The flowers are clustered in groups at the end of the flower stalks.  The flower buds are covered with dark hairs before they open.  Flowers resemble daisies without the disk area in the center and are about a 1/2 inch across.  Each flower petal is divided at the tip into 5 parts.  Insects do visit the flowers, which produce some nectar, but the plant can set fertile seed without pollination.

All parts of the plant leak a white sticky sap when broken.  Animals avoid grazing on them, but the plant is not considered to be toxic.
 
Yellow Hawkweed



10 great hotdog makeovers

Its grilling time again, but meat is expensive this year.  Hotdogs are always a favorite, especially for kids and they are relatively inexpensive. But if you get tired of the same old hotdogs here are some quick hotdog makeovers that will make wiener eating interesting again.

Pair hot dogs with baked beans and potato salad and you’ve created a great summer meal. Use some of the interesting makeovers below and make hotdogs a great meal for entertaining adult guests also.

Steam them in beer. Place a small amount of beer in a shallow pan, maybe an inch deep, add hotdogs and put them on low heat so the beer is barely simmering. Once they have plumped and cooked, they could be thrown on a grill to brown them.  Keep watch over the pan so it doesn’t boil dry, add beer from the can you’re holding as necessary.

Simmer in pineapple juice.  Once again use a shallow pan, add about an inch of unsweetened pineapple juice and let the hotdogs simmer in it.  Add juice as needed.  These are great served on Hawaiian style buns.

Better with bacon. Split hotdogs down the middle, don’t cut all the way through. Fill the inside of the hotdog split with finely chopped onion, a little pickle relish and mustard.  Wrap each dog tightly with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick.  These can be grilled or baked in the oven.

Cheese and bacon dogs.  Fry one slice of bacon for each hotdog until it’s browning but not crispy.  Steam, boil or grill hotdogs until they are almost done - probably 5 minutes on a grill.  Remove from heat.  Split down the middle and       sprinkle with finely shredded cheese- cheddar is good.  Wrap hot dog in the bacon   slice to hold dog together and secure with a toothpick.  Return to grill or put under a broiler until the bacon is crispy and cheese melted.

Hotdog cover up.  No buns will be needed here.  Buy a can of refrigerated crescent rolls.  Unroll the dough and separate each piece. Prepare hot dogs by splitting down the middle and filling with chopped onion, mustard and shredded cheese.  Crescent rolls usually come in a triangle shaped piece.   Lay a hotdog on   the large end of the dough and roll the dough around the dog.  Secure with toothpick if needed.  These are best baked or grilled over low heat.

Kraut and dogs.  Simmer hotdogs in a shallow pan of sauerkraut.  Pile heated kraut over dog on bun and add mustard.

Bacon and mushroom dogs.  Use about a 1/2 pound of bacon to a package of hot dogs. In a pan put the hot dogs and bacon.  Cook until the bacon is crisp and hot dogs are plump and splitting.  Remove dogs and bacon. Keep warm.  Pour off all the grease except 2 tablespoons.  Place sliced mushrooms in the pan with the bacon grease and a tablespoon of butter or if you must, margarine. Cook and stir mushrooms until soft and heated, just a few minutes.  Crumble the cooked bacon into mushrooms.  Place hot dogs on buns and sprinkle with cheddar cheese shreds.  Add a spoonful of bacon and mushrooms.

Barbecue hotdogs.  Barbecue sauce isn’t just for ribs and chicken.  Lay dogs      in a pan of your favorite sauce, cook slowly and turn two or three times.  Sweet sauces go good with hot dogs.

Peppery hot dogs.  In a shallow pan place about an inch of water.  Add 1 cup of diced hot peppers, (serrano, chile, jalapeno), 1/2 cup diced onion and a teaspoon of salt.  Prepare hotdogs by poking several holes in each with a toothpick.  Simmer hotdogs slowly in the pepper water. Turn from time to time and add water if necessary. The longer they sit, the hotter they get.  The best way to         serve is with some roasted red or green sweet pepper and some nacho cheese poured over the bun.

Deep fried hot dog-  Do you have a turkey fryer or better yet a small basket fryer?  Fill with oil according to your manual and fry the dogs.  Peanut oil gives them a great taste.  Make sure to remove hot dogs from the fryer before they get hard.  If you   slice them down the middle except for about an inch at one end before you drop them in the fryer they will curl while frying and could be placed on a burger bun instead of a hotdog bun.

Using a good quality bun will make any hotdog taste better.  Lightly toasting the buns, spread with a little butter, makes them even yummier.


Summer solstice

Saturday, June 20, is summer solstice, the longest day of the year, the beginning of summer. It used to be one of the most celebrated days of the year by humans, along with winter solstice, when the shortest day occurs, and the days begin lengthening again.

In the more northern countries, the celebrations are more marked, probably because the sun is so welcome and vital in these climates and because at summer solstice in the far north the sun never seems to set. But almost every culture away from the equator celebrated solstice.

Different cultures celebrate summer solstice in different ways.  Solstice festivities almost always include fire, with bonfires a requisite of most celebrations.  Oak wood is commonly used in solstice bonfires for luck and magic. People jump over the fires for luck and make talismans of the ashes.  The ashes of solstice fires are spread on crops to bring a good harvest.

However, the astrological sign Cancer, a water sign, begins at the time of solstice so water also figures into many solstice festivities.  In ancient cultures burning wheels were often rolled into water or bark boats filled with flowers and herbs were set on fire and floated down rivers.

Wreaths of flowers and herbs are included in many solstice celebrations.  The wreaths are worn on the head and hung on doors and are said to bring good luck. Rue, fennel, roses, rosemary, foxglove, lemon verbena, calendula, mallow, elderberry, St. John's Wort, vervain and trefoil are plants associated with these wreaths and summer solstice.  Often the flowers or wreaths were left outside to gather the dew on the night of the solstice.  Washing your face with the dew collected on the night of the solstice was supposed to make you beautiful and delay aging. 

Common traditions include a couple jumping over a bonfire to make it known they were committed to each other and other rituals of fertility and marriage.  (Interestingly a woman’s fertility is also highest at this time.) Conception in June results in a baby born in March, which in earlier times was a good month to give birth.  Food supplies would be more plentiful as the baby began to require more milk, the weather more moderate, and the wife would be recovered enough to help with spring planting. Even today June is the month most favored for marriage.

Native Americans of the plains tribes held the Sun Dance near the summer solstice. This was a time of dancing around bonfires, prayer, fasting and tests of strength, depending on the tribe.  In some tribes, young men were put through grueling rituals to enter manhood at this time.

Midsummer’s eve is often confused with the summer solstice but is not the same.  It generally occurs a few days later than the solstice, on June 23 or 24.  It is supposed to mark the birth of John the Baptist, who is supposed to have been born six months before Jesus and is a product of Christianity adopting and adapting pagan celebrations.  But there is a great mixture of fairy visits and other magic associated with Midsummers eve in folklore also. The point where the sun is farthest (yes farthest) from the earth, the aphelion, occurs on July 3 at 3 am.

This would be a good year to start your own summer solstice tradition to celebrate the beginning of summer.  Think sunbathing, swimming and a great bonfire at night. These are lovely summer activities that can work with social distancing and still be fun.




There are moments, above all on June evenings, when the lakes that hold our moons are sucked into the earth, and nothing is left but wine and the touch of a hand.     
-Charles Morgan


Kim Willis
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