As the nights continue to get warmer and the summer thundershowers appear, conditions should improve for the arrival of fireflies to light up the sky at evening-tide. Perhaps this will be an abundant season for them.They seem to be more plentiful some years than others.

Sometimes we wonder if light pollution causes many of them to migrate to wide open country. We notice that the best opportunity to see an abundance of fireflies is to ride down a country back road, turn off the vehicles lights and see a field swarming with fireflies.

Nothing is more beautiful in summertime than an evening filled with fireflies. Each night I’m going to spend several minutes doing a firefly count and record the findings; I will let you know the results.

Strawberry harvest near its end

The strawberry season in the Piedmont is nearing its final days. There is still enough time to visit the local field near you to pick several gallons to freeze for the winter. Strawberries prepared for the freezer are the next best thing to fresh.

Still time to plant four o’clocks

The colorful four o’ clocks can still be planted in the warm soil of June. They thrive in all types of soil and will bloom all the way until frost. Use some Flower-Tone organic flower food to get them off to a good start.

The verbena produces well in hanging baskets and an unusual characteristic of the verbena is the way it cascades over the sides of the hanging baskets and fills the inside and outside of the baskets with colorful blooms and foliage. Set about three plants well spaced out in each basket so they will have plenty of room and not become root bound. Feed them once a month with Flower-Tone organic flower food and water each evening. They will bloom all summer long. Pinch off spent blooms to promote new blooms.

Planting portulaca in a pot

It may be called desert rose, cactus flower or rose moss. Whatever you call it, it is colorful and loves summer warmth. It blooms fresh and new every morning that the summer sun shines. The flowers are red, yellow, white, orange, pink, tan, wine, burgundy and bronze. It will be in bloom when you purchase it in six and nine packs. It can be planted in a large container or tub to produce a rainbow of color. As the foliage grows, it will cascade over the sides of the tub or container producing more flowers.

Of all the annuals of summer used to fill hanging baskets, impatiens make the best and most colorful as they cascade over the baskets and produce hundreds of colorful flowers. Plant only about three plants per basket to allow them to spread out.

Care of the Christmas cactus

All the Christmas cactus are spending summer in a semi sunny location on the front porch. The containers are replenished with cactus medium and given a fresh drink of water each week. I feed them with Flower-Tone organic flower food once a month. If the cactus foliage turns reddish, this is a signal from the cactus that it is receiving too much sun and needs to be moved.

To assure a long harvest of tomatoes all summer long, set out a four pack of plants each week for as long as you can find healthy plants. Use calcium carbonate (powdered lime) in bottom of furrow when you set out the plants to prevent blossom end rot and feed with Tomato-Tone organic tomato food. Water base of the plants with the water wand on weeks when little rain is forecast. This will also help revent blossom end rot.

The sun shines down on the hanging baskets and containers all during the day and drying out the soil. Use the water wand in “shower” mode or a sprinkling can to apply water until it runs out the holes in the bottom of containers and baskets. Apply water in late afternoon or early evening.

Keep birds returning to the baths each day by refilling the baths with cool fresh water and emptying out the sun heated water from the all day sun. This keeps the water from being infested by egg laying insects and pollen and pollution as well as to provide fresh cool water to all types of birds.

The ferns are lush and green as they spend summer on the deck in a semi sunny location. They need a drink of water each afternoon to refresh and cool them off. The panda and asparagus ferns need trimming each month to promote new growth. An application of Flower-Tone organic flower food each month gives them a boost.

1 head or one lb. bag chopped broccoli

1 can cream of chicken soup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil chicken until tender, remove skin, de-bone and cut into half-inch chunks. Cook broccoli until tender. Place cut up chicken into a casserole dish sprayed with baking spray and add cooked broccoli. Mix soup, egg, parmesan cheese, mayonnaise and milk in a bowl and pour over the chicken and broccoli. Top casserole with stuffing. Melt butter and drizzle over the top of the stuffing. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Will serve five.

A husband came home and found his new bride crying. “I was pressing your new suit and burned a hole in the seat of your new pants.” “Forget it,” replied the husband. “Remember, I got an extra pair of pants for that suit.” “Yes, it’s lucky you have,” said his bride, “I used them to patch the hole!”

On The Vine Summer 2022 Edition

What’s Happening in Area Churches

© 2018 The Stokes News Privacy Policy