The lilacs were all showing off their best in years and then the HEAT came and they said “enough of this” and almost overnight went into their brown stage! The tulips must have been communicating with the lilacs and said “I will follow you as it is also getting too hot for us”. My fall planted tulips did a wonderful job of showing off so I am going to order more to plant this fall and hope they come before the big snowstorms. Some how shoveling snow to plant bulbs seems a bit odd and cold.

Now it is gardening time and all the joys and pains of that are in full swing. These recent cool nights probably put some fear in the tomatoes and peppers and other tropicals but they will get over it. The Garden Centers are looking a bit bare so flowers and produce should be in good supply for the summer and fall seasons. The Hasting Farm Market is officially opening on June 12 at the Westview Shopping Center. (A vendor or 2 has been on site already on Tuesdays and Saturdays. They keep the same hours 8 to 1 unless they sell out early). Cottage Grove people, let me know if you have a Farmers Market in your city. I love visiting other markets now that I have time since I retired from the Hastings Market after 30 plus years. LuAnn, the current manager of the Hastings Market, says there will be new and returning vendors for the 2021 year so it should be a great one in 2021!

Now may be the perfect time to break out the “secret” homemade weed killer and fertilzer recipes. You will save a bucket or two of money and you will be doing it naturally without a lot of other harsh commercial things added. This info is all on your computer but I did a lot of research and got it together in one place, I did not make it up. Let’s start with the weed killer. We spend many $$$$ on that at the store but we can save a lot of money using more interesting things like wool, ice cream cones, etc. The first recipe is from HGTV. Start with 1 gallon of vinegar, 1 cup of salt and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap, mix and you should be ready for the jungle. The most often printed recipe has a bit different ingredients and measurements and that is 1 gallon of vinegar, 2 cups of Epsom salts and ¼ cup of liquid dish soap. Mark the bottle well so you KNOW what it is and use it only for the right reason!!!!! Miracle Gro is probably one of the most often purchased garden enhancement products and you can make your own for pennies. (More wool and ice cream cones). Again, we will start with a gallon container and 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon Epson salts, ½ teaspoon of household ammonia, add water to fill up to top. You may want to add a few drops of blue liquid dish soap to color and also the soap helps the liquid go into the soil. It’s now ready to USE! You can make a super Miracle Gro, which I think is not really available in stores. Make the regular recipe but don’t fill the container full to the top. Leave room to add crushed egg shells and coffee grounds to the mixture for about 2 weeks or so. Let sit in cool dark place for another 2 weeks and then strain if you wish and that will be ready to USE. Again, label so you know what you are using.

You can make all kinds of interesting fertilizers if you spend a little time on the computer. Did you know that you can make your own plant teas using things like banana peels, compost, manure, weeds, eggshells and lots of other household by products? City water people NOTE: Put your water in an open container for at least 24 hours so that the chlorine can “gas off” before you add anything to it. I don’t know if this is 100 percent true, but it probably has merit. I think I recall that this is important for your fish tank.

Yes, it really seems like summer is here and especially once we celebrate Memorial Day. You can now wear your whites (if that is your thing) but they say not to wear white in the rain. I will tell you why next week. That also may be if it is your thing.