Dirt-y Secrets Precious summer days

By Ranel Hanson Reader Columnist

“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August”

— Jenny Han

There is certainly plenty of magic in each and every month, but these precious summer days always feel like the very best of times. Our gardens are at their peak and somehow weeding seems less important than, say, a dive into the lake, berry picking or a new zucchini recipe.

There are a few garden chores that need attention, though. Deadheading is an important one. Deadheading is the process of removing spent blooms so that new growth can send new flowers.

Also, if you have hanging baskets, they will benefit from a good trim now. Petunias, for example, need to have the old flowers cut off at the stem — don’t just pull off the dead flowers — in order to stay lush. This is true of most all of your annuals. Add some fertilizer and plenty of water, too, and those flowers will keep on blooming beautifully until first frost.

And, speaking of fertilizer, most plants need a dose right now. Trees, too. My favorite is fish emulsion for everything but pots and baskets. Not that it isn’t effective there; but, I don’t like the fishy smell to greet me as I walk out the door. Instead, I use a liquid or the granules on decks and baskets.

Composted manure is great for trees and landscape plantings. Just be sure to use organic products because pollinators are precious and poisons not only kill them but birds and fish, too. Of course, water for everything.

Let’s talk about milkweed. Milkweed is a beautiful perennial plant that bees and butterflies love — particularly monarch butterflies, who must lay their eggs on milkweed so that their caterpillars can dine on the leaves. Other butterflies use them as incubators, too.

Right now, milkweed plants are producing seed pods and I suggest we all collect those seeds (when they mature) and plant little milkweed patches everywhere we can. Maybe we can attract more monarchs and make Sandpoint a regular stop on their migration to and from Mexico.

Last winter was hard on many plants. So hard that many shrubs and trees just couldn’t come back in the spring. Now is the time to think about helping those plants that survived make it through next winter. A stressed plant is more likely to give up when icy winds blow. Fertilizer, water and mulch are what is needed — especially for roses. If you see aphids, wash them off with your garden hose. A healthy plant is more resilient.

Another wonderful pastime that summer brings is live music. There’s nothing like it to soothe the soul and change your attitude. We are so fortunate to have so many talented and inspiring musicians right here among us.

I was reminded recently that a night out listening to good music is a cure for what ails you. And, we have plenty of great venues for those hard-working musicians to entertain us. Our wonderful music festival is right around the corner, but don’t wait. Head downtown to sip something cold and have your spirit lifted. Maybe even dance and sing along.

Before I end, I want to diverge from gardening for a moment and recognize Jen Jackson Quintano, who writes the “Lumberjill” column in the Reader. If you haven’t read her thoughtful column in the July 13 edition of the paper, you certainly should. I don’t know Jen, but I admire her writing and point of view every time I read her words.

This specific article concerns a phrase that is often bandied about in Sandpoint. That is, “if you don’t like Sandpoint values, then leave.” First of all, “Sandpoint values” are many and diverse and all are welcome — as long as we can respect each other. Second, like many of you I expect, I have entertained the thought of relocating to a kinder, more inclusive place. But, this is my town. And leaving would only allow those who want to limit our freedoms and discourse to inch further toward imposing their values upon the rest of us.

Those “values” have already caused women’s health care to not include obstetric care and many of our finest doctors to leave Sandpoint. So, stay here. Get involved in standing up to the folks who think it is “their way or the highway.” Contribute to the beautifully diverse culture that is our town. And vote.