"Let your children be as so many flowers,
borrowed from God. If the flowers die or
wither, thank God for a summer loan of them."
        Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661)

Weather Watch: Fair and hot (1,2,3) with storms (4,5). Hazy, hot, and humid (6,7,8,9,10) with heavy rain and more storms (11,12,13). Hazy, hot, and humid again (14,15) with the possibility of a tropical storm (16,17). Fair and less hot (18,19) turning hazy, hot, and humid (20,21,22). Storms, much cooler (23,24) changing to fair and very warm temperatures (25,26). Storms (27,28) with fair and warm weather (29,30). The month ends with a tropical storm (31).

Full Moon: August’s Full Moon rises on August 24th at 12:05PM EDT. It has often been referred to as the Full Ripe Moon or Fruit Moon because of the many summer vegetables and fruits that come ripe at this time. It is also known as the Dog Moon for The Dog Days of Summer, which end on the 11th.

Holidays: Prepare for a safe Labor Day holiday by giving the backyard grill one last bit of attention by cleaning off excess grease to avoid a smoky taste in foods and potential fires. Remember to always include safety, common sense, and a good sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) in your plans.

The Garden: August is the peak of the hot and dry season and your plants will need water more then anything during this time. If watering is limited or restricted in your area, concentrate on getting the most to newly planted trees and shrubs. If you use thick mulch, water will be retained much better. To ensure a happy harvest, pick vegetables in the morning hours when the sugar content is highest. Never harvest or do any other garden work when plants are wet or you're likely to spread disease. Use clippers or a sharp knife to harvest tough- or brittle-stemmed crops such as broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, peppers, and squash. They can be damaged if pulled or torn from their stems. Prune summer flowering shrubs as the flowers fade. Plant trees, shrubs and perennials now, so they can take root, and keep them well watered. Get your fall-blooming crocus and colchicum planted so they'll bloom on time.

John Gruber’s Thought for Today’s Living:

"There is more to be learned by listening closely and keeping an open mind, even though you often may not agree with the speaker".