Summer becomes official this week and we must count our blessings with the continuing rain. Many plants are producing exceptional flowers. Japanese Iris have never been better and the daylilies have thick strong flowering stalks with plump buds and flowers. The bugs are also arriving, the first Japanese beetle will usually show up around the 15th of June. The Japanese beetle population is determined by wet or dry conditions incurred during the summer of the previous year. In drought years the numbers are reduced as few eggs reach maturity. Since last year's summer wasn't terribly droughty, our beetle population will be higher. If their numbers increase to the point that you feel the urge to reduce them, consider using one of the Neem tree products. One such product, "Bio-Neem Oil", can be used as a preventative; when sprayed every week, it is effective in decreasing the chewing habits of bagworms, cutworms, gypsy moth larvae, Japanese beetles, mites and sawflies. "Bio-Neem Oil" will not harm bees or ladybugs.

With our frequent rains, powdery mildew can be a big problem and a homemade fungicide can be used as a preventative. It is especially important to spray every week or two. Following are 3 recipes; use the one that best suits your kitchen or garden shed inventory:

1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 drop of Ivory soap
to 1 quart of water

1 tb. baking soda
2 1/2 tb. 'Sunspray Ultra Fine Horticultural Spray Oil'
to 1 gallon of water

1 tb. baking soda
1 tsp. insecticidal soap
to 1 gallon of water

These mixes are especially effective on roses, zinnias, phlox, monardas and lilacs. Always use in a consistent manner for best results.