The heat is on ...

It seemed like the minute the calendar turned to July, we hit the 90s and have stayed there. (Of course, I'm writing this a week ahead of publication, so things may have changed by now.) Average temperatures for early to mid July are in the low 80s. I don't know about you, but those eighties sure sound good about now.

With all the recent heat, it's probably a good idea to water your trees. What they get from the lawn sprinklers is not enough, not even close. Lay the end of your hose under each tree and let it trickle overnight. Trees often die at this time of year for lack of water and it's a shame to see that happen.

Have you ever bought a nice big foxglove plant, enjoyed it and then were disappointed that it didn't live over winter? There is a reason this happens. Almost all foxgloves are biennials. If you're not familiar with the term, it simply means two. They live for two years with the first being a low mound of leaves, the second is when the flower stalks shoot up and bloom. After they bloom, they will set seeds and die.

To have foxgloves in your garden year after year you need to let those seeds develop. They will drop here and there and start new small plants. These will bloom the next year and the cycle will continue.

Lilies are often the star of July flowerbeds. First, the Asiatics bloom in early July and then the Oriental lilies bloom two or three weeks later. They look very similar, but there are differences. The Asiatics have no scent and multiply quickly. The Orientals smell heavenly, but are much slower to multiply. Both enjoy sunny locations, with afternoon shade and perfect drainage. Wet bogs can rot the bulbs.

July is also the month to dig and divide irises. They rest for about a month after bloom and then go into a growing phase. Waiting until fall is much too late as irises are so shallow rooted they need extra time to get established before winter.

Container plants need to be watered daily unless they are extra big. Even so, they all need to be fertilized every week or two. Remember, when you water, the nutrients are being washed out of the pot. Those planted in the ground can get by with only occasional fertilizer but they still need some in order to continue producing flowers all summer. The same goes for vegetable plants.

Several people have told me that they love lobelias, but can't keep them alive. There is only one secret to growing them. NEVER let them dry out. They have such thin stems that there is no room for recovery.

A while back I wrote about the dirtiest fruits and vegetables. Here is a list of the cleanest ones:

1. Onions

2. Corn

3. Pineapples

4. Avocado

5. Asparagus

6. Peas

7. Mangos

8. Eggplant

9. Cantaloupe

10. Kiwi

Words to live by: Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.

Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. Since then, she has always kept a garden of some sort, growing everything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and house plants. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls.