"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves"
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Storms (1, 2); warm and humid (3, 4, 5) with off-shore hurricane, heavy rain in the eastern part of the region (6, 7). Fair and warm (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) with more storms, heavy rain in the south (13, 14, 15); fair again and very warm (16, 17, 18) with Atlantic hurricane, severe storms in the east (19, 20, 21). Fair and hot (22, 23, 24, 25) with more storms (26, 27, 28) turning hot and humid (29, 30, 31).

Tornado Watch: Watch out for possible tornado activity in the Mid-Atlantic Region from the 18th to the 21st of July.

Full Moon: July’s Full Moon, which occurs on July 27th. Many Native Americans refer to it as Thunder Moon because of the increased number of thunderstorms, some quite severe, that occur during this month. Other tribes have called it Buck Moon due the rapid growth of antlers on young bucks in July, Hay Moon since hay tended to ripen at this time of year, and Ripe Corn Moon because of the appearance of young corn on the stalks.

Special Notes: Get ready for the ‘Dog Days of Summer’ that begin on Tuesday, July 3rd and continue into mid-August.

Holidays: Celebrate Independence Day on Wednesday, July 4th! This most famous day in U.S. history, in 1776, witnessed The Continental Congress passing a resolution saying, "these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, free and independent states". When enjoying the holiday, be sure to remember sunscreen. Apply frequently, especially if swimming or engaged in strenuous activities.

The Garden: During the dry summer months, remember to mow the lawn when it is high and mow less often. Taller grass withstands drought better because its blades shade the soil. Invest in a rain gauge and keep track of your rain. This is not only helpful, but fun as well. Allow roses to rest in late-July. Do not fertilize, but continue spraying, and give them a light pruning to encourage new Fall growth. Repot houseplants that have been kept outdoors if roots start to crowd their containers. If you have to divide plants, give them a chance to recover from the disruption to their root system by keeping them in the shade for at least a week. Deadhead some perennials, either for continued bloom, or for improved foliage. Leggy annuals may need to be pruned back to encourage new growth and more flowering. Some annuals don’t take hot weather and may need to be replaced. This is the last month to plant these veggies for a fall crop: snap beans, peas, cucumbers, carrots, kohlrabi, summer squash, early sweet corn, and green onions, among others.

J. Gruber’s Thought For Today’s Living:

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