Ways to Celebrate Gardening in August!

By Teresa Watkins

Summertime
And the living is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Oh, your daddy's rich
And your mama's good lookin'
So hush little baby now
don't you cry

One of these mornin's
You're gonna rise up singin'
Then you'll spread your wings
And take to the sky

But til that mornin'
Ain't nothin' can harm you
With your daddy
And your mammy
standin' by

George Gershwin - Dubose Heyward

Summertime and the livin? is easy!  Well, here in Florida, it should be easy! It?s a great time for just enjoying the shade in your backyard, napping in your hammock after mowing the lawn, listening to the birds sing, and sipping fresh-squeezed lemonade from your own tree.  Summertime is the time of year to relax and enjoy some lazy days: go on vacations, have family over for holiday cookouts, and don?t be concerned with having a perfect lawn. Life is stressful enough without worrying about the grass growing. With the temperatures and summer rain, or if necessary ? irrigation, your grass is going to grow just fine.

                        Enjoying your time outside means taking special precautions as well. The summer months also, are the heaviest times for mosquitos and the season for the West Nile Virus. Please follow these simple steps to ensure that your neighborhood doesn?t fall prey to lurking mosquitoes:

• Flush birdbaths and containers under potted plants twice a week.
• Drain unused pools, tarps and grill covers.
• Clean gutters and drain spouts.
• Turn over wading pools, wheelbarrows, trash lids and any other objects that hold water.
• Repair outdoor leaking faucets.
• Staying indoors at dawn, dusk and in the early evening
• Wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors
• Applying insect repellent that contains 20% to 30% DEET sparingly to exposed skin
• Eliminating standing water found in or around the yard, flowerpots, tires, wading pools, gutters and containers for pets and other wildlife
• Use your suntan lotion, wear a hat, and enjoy your gardening.