Invasive and hostile
The words invasive and hostile come to mind nowadays. The summer storm seasons is often hostile and invasive, however, gardeners do not have just one season to deal with these two words, they are always a problem.
Now, as our beautiful sun and clouds suddenly turn dim and black, become extremely noisy and our welcome summer breezes become super strong filling with way too much rain, we know we all are going to be dealing with hostile and invasive.
As a gardener, invasive will mean a plant that is going to be growing all over any nearby space. They are aggressive and need to be dealt with properly. The lovely Mexican petunia is that type of plant. Another type of useful plant is the potato plant and that is really such an aggressive plant, it can be considered hostile to many a gardener. Both of these plants cause problems and can be enjoyed with patience and dedication. The summer storm season, especially June through November, needs to be endured the same way. Do not get hung up on actual dates, Mother Nature is a bit whimsical about actual dates.
Everyone must have read their local hurricane magazine by now. They are available free at most grocery stores and other news outlets. You need to read this interesting and informative guide.
A hoe, a clipper and dedicated perseverance will remove hostile and invasive problems in the garden. Education and up-to-date awareness will be the only way to endure a safe storm season.
We have all just completed a short course in storm warning and its many changes as these storms slide off the coast of Africa, right now.
They do have a different approach system that we can deal with later.
Your weather station is your best friend, or a proper radio system. We have several stations to rely on. They will not dramatize, nor play down, nor hold back facts about the information they are receiving.
There is even a sense of competition among stations to be the one who does the best job of forecasting; of course, this is the land of competition. I have two favorites because I do seem to have a problem making decisions with anything. It doesn’t matter who or how many stations guide you along this summer. You just need to understand you need to be guided.
Gutsy Erika is long gone and Fred is slipping away, but there are others coming down the pike.
It is still very hot, when the sun does shine, wear sunscreen and stay hydrated.
It is still no fertilizing time. Wait until Sept. 30.
It is time, right now, to pinch back your Christmas poinsettia. In a pot or in the soil, you can trim them back about 1/3 of the plant. Trim straight across or trim to shape. I never feed mine for about a month, but a light feeding now is OK. A potted plant does not need to be repotted but loosen up the soil. No need to move it into the sun.
The rainy season will be over soon, depending on Mother Nature, and social activities are warming up around the area.
Enjoy life here in our tropical atmosphere, keep active and remember to be mindful of life and friends. Till we meet again
-H.I. Jean Shields is Past President of the Garden Club of Cape Coral.