Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Dry, warm and humid (1, 2, 3, 4); late-day showers (5); warm, turning very humid (6, 7, 8, 9, 10); humid, late-day thunderstorms (11, 12); fair, not as humid (13); fair but very hot and humid (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19); hot, late-day thunderstorms (20, 21, 22, 23); warm, late-day scattered thunderstorms (24, 25, 26); occasional afternoon showers (27); mild, dry (28, 29, 30, 31).

Severe Watch: Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain (12); Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain (22, 23).

Full Moon: Augusts’ full moon will occur on August 11th, which just so happens to be the end of the ‘Dog Days of Summer’! Appropriately so, it has been referred to as Dog Moon by many while other Native American tribes called it Ripe Moon or Fruit Moon due to the many fruits and vegetables that ripen during this month.

Holidays: The end of summer is near and Labor Day is a just few weeks. Many are starting school, some for the very first time, and may need special attention. Begin planning now and make a list of the things that need to be done and when they need to be completed. Schedule immunizations and/or physicals, purchase new clothes, and assess school supplies that will be needed with ample lead-time to ensure a successful ‘first day’ for your young students.

The Garden: August is not too late to sow Portulaca (moss rose). They will bloom in about three weeks from seed. To encourage more flowers, azaleas should be trimmed after they bloom in the spring and before the end of August. Stop feeding trees and shrubs after mid-August. You don’t want to promote new growth that will not have time to fully mature before winter sets in.

The Farm: Best for planting root crops (17, 18, 19); weeding and stirring the soil (7, 8, 9); planting above-ground crops (4, 5, 6); harvesting all crops (7, 8, 11, 12); the best days for setting hens and incubators (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17); the slaughtering and butchering of meat (1, 2, 3, 4, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31); transplanting (1, 2, 3, 4, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31); the weaning of all small animals and livestock (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14); harvesting and storing grains (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26).

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

"Keeping one’s eyes, ears, and mind open but mouth closed will often lead to a more thorough understanding of life’s problems"