“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”
                      Wendell Phillips (1811 -1884)
 

Mid-atlantic Region Weather Watch: Fair and warm (1,2,3) turning warmer and humid (4,5). STORMS and very hot (6,7) with the 3 H's (hazy, hot, and humid) (8,9,10). More STORMS in the south and showers in the north (11,12) turning hazy, hot, and humid again (13,14,15,16). Showers (17,18) with more hazy, hot and humid weather (19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26). Remnants of hurricane, stormy (27,28) turning hot and humid (29,30,31).

Tornado Watch: The Almanack foresees tornado activity from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic Region from July 24th to the 28th

Full Moon: July's Full Moon has been known by many names. It has been called the Buck Moon because of the rapid growth of antlers in young bucks during this period, Thunder Moon because of the thunderstorms that were most severe during this time of year, and also Ripe Corn Moon because young corn begins to appear on the bright green stalks. July's Full Moon will occur on July 18th at 2:59AM EST.

Special Notes: Those ol' Dog Days of Summer begin on Thursday, July 3rd! On July 4th in 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution saying, "these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, free and independent states".

HOLIDAYS: Celebrate the 4th with safety in mind. Practice good sense when having fun on the water. If boating, remember that alcohol and "boater's hypnosis", which can effect you after long periods exposed to the sun, glare, noise, and vibration can be deadly. If planning to be outdoors for an extended period of time, remember to take along sunscreen with a rating of SPF 15 or higher. Apply frequently to yourself and children especially if swimming. If planning a cookout, check out the grill thoroughly and every aspect of its operation when you replace the propane tank. Check all hoses, couplings, gauges, and the burner jets for undue wear, malfunction, or clogs. To avoid a fire, be sure the grill surfaces are well scrubbed and clean of any grease. Enjoy!

The Garden: During dry weather, continue to keep the garden adequately watered. Remember, a deep, thorough soaking once a week is more beneficial than a daily light sprinkling. Allow roses to rest in July and August. Do not fertilize, but continue spraying, and give them a light pruning in July to encourage new fall growth. During the dry summer months, remember to mow the lawn when it is high and mow less often. Taller grass withstands drought better because the blades shade the soil.

John Grubers' Thought for Today's Living:

"Do not regard liberty and freedom so lightly that you forget its value and take it for granted"