July started so hot and humid that very little got done in the garden. Watering the plants that looked parched and miserable, cleaning and filling the hummingbird feeders with fresh sugar solution and topping the birdbath with fresh, cool water has been the extent of my labor. Even that limited time in the garden was enough to be devoured by greedy, vicious mosquitoes no doubt lying in wait for my forays.
BUT, the long weekend was simply gorgeous. The Fourth ushered in lower temperatures and even lower humidity. Hallelujah! A morning hike in a preserve nearby was glorious. Birds and bird songs abounded. After spending so much time in the cool of the indoors, it was liberating to move around. Feeling the gentle breeze, hearing the birds, inhaling the earthy smells of the lofty, green pillared cathedral was nothing short of being in a sacred space, My spirits soared. A reminder of how much we need to be in Nature.
Back home, it was pure bliss to simply sit in my garden and enjoy the sight of all the flowers that had been undaunted by the preceding days of heat. I delighted in watching the hummingbirds at the feeders, butterflies dancing in what appeared distinctly flirtatious and, a myriad happy pollinators in action. The Echinacea was a particular draw.
Later that evening, I was privileged to sit in a friend’s garden sipping wine, observing the brilliant sunset before the main attraction – fireworks of course! A very satisfactory day indeed.
Saturday was just as lovely. Between neighbors dropping in to see the garden and us driving over to friends for a garden party, I did exert myself to get a spot of weeding done.
At the aforementioned garden party, there was a brief period of grumbling about the pest du jour – the reviled spotted lanternfly. With no real control available, folks are resorting to neem oil. A good general, organic treatment but, not only must it be reapplied after every rainfall, it is important to remember that the good insects are also impacted by any general products. My own response is to crush the pests whenever I see them. The nymphs are more elusive. My Concord grapevine is a lanternfly favorite so, I’m watching the developing clusters of grapes with trepidation.
Sunday started out beautifully and I made the most of it by lingering outdoors but by noon the humidity rose as did the mercury. Sigh. Another week fraught with heat, humidity and thunder showers is forecast.
Why oh why must all good things come to end? And so quickly too.















(c) 2025 Shobha Vanchiswar
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