Gardening by Osmosis

Many counties in the Inland Northwest prohibit or discourage the sale or use of fireworks.

July gardens, however, still explode in color.

Red California fuchsia cascades from hanging baskets and walls, the Pow Wow series, echinacea, invite pollinators to their launching pads.

Speaking of California, bright orange California poppies open their throats to many species of bees as morning sun teases their petals.

Cobalt blue Veronica dazzle the beholder as their blossoms reach for the sun.

Green flower heads of Autumn Joy Sedum hold tight to their stems just waiting for longer summer nights to loosen their grip.

Cosmos, available in pink, magenta, white, and new varieties of orange and burgundy, produce flowers all summer.

Agastache’s pallet of orange, amethyst, and pink offer reblooming with dead-heading.

The deep throats of Penstemon entice long-tongued butterflies and hummingbirds.

Day lilies will be showing off their peachy, pink, yellow, and lime green flowers this month.

Ethereal fairy blossoms of white and pink Gaura meander through the garden as they dance with the slightest breeze.

What could add more pizzazz to the show then the frothy blooms of Golden Spirit smoke bush or the Dwarf Japanese Golden Barberry shrub?

Colorful arrays of zinnias and annual dahlias (not the dinner plate varieties that grow from corms) fill spaces where spring daffodils and tulips once performed.

The five petaled flowers of the dependable potentilla mirror the sun as other flowering shrubs in the border relinquish their blooms.

Unable to control themselves, the graceful inflorescence of the variegated ornamental grass Calamagrostis ‘overdam’ bends and sways as it catches glimmers of sunshine.

Snapdragons add to the festivities in the garden as they pop open their throats to hummingbirds and pollinators.

Though most summer days are regarded as pleasant, some are not.

Extreme temperatures above 85 degrees in July can discourage fruit set of veggies such as squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

These hot temperatures may also cause lettuce and broccoli crops to bolt.

By installing a shade cover, these plants can be spared sun scorch.

The plants are also able to better use moisture for growth and nourishment.

We gardeners are at the mercy of the weather.

Rarely do we have the “perfect season”.

Often, we must assist Mother Nature in protecting our investments and our potential fall food crop.

Local garden clubs are a valuable gardening resource and provide education, encouragement, and socialization.

Contact your Chamber of Commerce for information about garden clubs in your city.

Back to the topic of explosion in the garden.

It has been many years since I have seen a cottontail rabbit on my property, but bunny rabbits are everywhere this summer.

A rabbit population explosion to be sure.

Evidently, perfect conditions have prevailed.

Piles of slash, not allowed to be burned, and perfectly timed rainfall for lush rabbit growth contributed to ideal conditions.

What to do to discourage Peter Rabbit from increasing the numbers in his family?

Contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for recommendations and sympathies.