EXTRA!FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

COOL SUMMER BEVERAGES A SALUTE TO “YANKEE DOODLE” PINING FOR A PANTRY TOWN DUMP: FRIEND OR FOE?

JULY 2020 PHOTO: JENIFOTO/GETTY IMAGES s s CONTENTS s FEATURES

FOOD Cool Summer WEATHER Beverages FORECASTS How We Make GARDENING Our Predictions Pining for a Pantry July U.S. LIVING NATURALLY and Canadian Town Dump: Friend Weather Forecasts or Foe? Weather Update HISTORY A Salute to “Yankee DEPARTMENTS WIT Doodle” Humor Me CALENDAR Grins and groans July Holidays, Fun from the Almanac Facts, and More WHAT’S NEXT ASTROLOGY See what we have Best Days to in store for our Do Things August issue! Gardening by the Moon’s Sign

ASTRONOMY Sky Map for July

FOLLOW US: s s CALENDAR s july Holidays, Fun Facts, and More Holiday Traditions Around the World Bastille Day (France) n July 14 each year, people in OFrance, parts of North America, and elsewhere celebrate La Fête Nationale (which is not the same as the eponymous Quebec June holiday), or Le Quatorze (14th) Juillet. Known as Bastille Day outside of France, the holiday commemorates the storming of the political prisoners. To things came to a head: Bastille, which ignited the common people, Angry revolutionaries the French Revolution. who were suffering took over a military Built in the late 1300s, from a food shortage hospital to gather the Bastille was a and the burden of muskets. Their fortress that protected high taxes, it also had next target was the Paris, France, from become a symbol of the Bastille, for its supply attack. monarchy’s oppression. of gunpowder. (At By the late 1700s, Over time, several the time, only seven during the reign of King political and economic prisoners were being Louis XVI and Queen events had increased held there.) Marie Antoinette, the tensions between nobles When negotiations fortress had become and commoners. with the prison’s infamous for holding On July 14, 1789, governor took longer

PHOTO: AUGUSTIN LAZAROIU/SHUTTERSTOCK s s CALENDAR s than expected, the memorates the begin- reconciliation. people lost patience nings of a modern Today, Bastille Day and stormed the French republic and festivities often include Bastille, an action that its evolution toward military and civilian resulted in the loss of liberty, equality, and parades, dances and 100 lives but eventually fraternity. firemen’s balls, musical led to the overthrow It also is celebrated events, and fireworks. of King Louis XVI and in remembrance of La People also explore the French monarchy. Fête de la Fédération, museums, such as the This violent period an event that took Louvre, to learn more of transition ended place on July 14, 1790, about French history 10 years later, when to mark the (short- and culture. Or, they Napoleon Bonaparte lived) constitutional may go on picnics with became France’s leader, monarchy and family and friends or as First Consul. serve as a symbol of enjoy French cuisine at Bastille Day com- national unity and restaurants and cafés.

Holiday Happenings Last Quarter: July 12, at 7:29 p.m. EDT July 1: Canada Day New Moon: July 20, at 1:33 p.m. EDT July 4: Independence Day First Quarter: July 27, at 8:33 a.m. EDT July 14: Bastille Day July 25: National Day of the Cowboy SPECIAL EVENTS • July 4: Earth is at aphelion (the point in a planet’s orbit that is Joke of the Month farthest from the Sun) on July 4, Q: What kind of tea did the when it will be 94,507,635 miles American colonists want? from the Sun. A: Liberty (“Liber-tea”) • July 4–5: Penumbral lunar eclipse Eye on the Sky (visible in parts of N.Am.) MOON PHASES  TAP FOR MORE ABOUT MOON PHASES Full Buck Moon: July 5, at 12:44 a.m. EDT  TAP FOR MORE ABOUT JULY’S FULL MOON Just Released!

ONLY $5.99!

Grow your best garden ever with tried-and-true advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac!

LEARN MORE s s ASTROLOGY s

BEST DAYS TO DO THINGS These July dates, deemed to be propitious in astrology, are based on the astrological passage of the Moon. However, consider all indicators before making any major decisions. –Celeste Longacre

PERSONAL Cut to encourage growth: 25, 26 Advertise to sell: 1, 27, 28 Get married: 25, 26 Ask for a loan: 10, 15 Have dental care: 23, 24 Begin diet to lose weight: 10, 15 Move (house/household): 16, 17 Begin diet to gain weight: 1, 28 hair: 6–8 Buy a home: 1, 28 Quit smoking: 4, 9, 31 Color hair: 13–15 Straighten hair: 2, 3, 29, 30 Cut hair to discourage growth: 9, 10

PHOTO: PIXABAY s s ASTROLOGY s

Travel for pleasure: 21, 22 IN THE GARDEN Wean children: 4, 9, 31 Destroy pests and weeds: 11, 12 Graft or pollinate: 18–20 AROUND THE HOUSE Harvest aboveground crops: 23, 24 Bake: 18–20 Harvest belowground crops: 14, 15 Brew: 1, 27, 28 Mow to slow growth: 11, 12 Can, pickle, or make sauerkraut: Mow to promote growth: 1, 22 9, 10 Pick fruit: 23, 24 Demolish: 1, 27, 28 Plant aboveground crops: 1, 27, 28 Dry fruit/vegetables/meat: 11, 12 Plant belowground crops: 9, 10, 19 End projects: 19 Prune to discourage growth: 11, 12 Lay shingles: 21, 22 Prune to encourage growth: 21, 22 Make jams/jellies: 9, 10

Paint: 25, 26 ON THE FARM Start projects: 21 Breed animals: 1, 27, 28 Wash floors: 9, 10 Castrate animals: 6–8 Wash windows: 11, 12 Cut hay: 11, 12 Purchase animals: 18–20 OUTDOORS Set eggs: 6, 7 Begin logging: 4, 5, 31 Slaughter livestock: 1, 27, 28 Go camping: 2, 3, 29, 30 Wean animals: 4, 9, 31 Go fishing: 1–5, 20–31 Set posts or pour concrete: 4, 5, 31 s s ASTROLOGY s

gardening by the moon’s sign Use the July dates shown in the Moon’s Astrological Place calendar below to find the best days for the following garden tasks:

PLANT, TRANSPLANT, AND GRAFT: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, or Taurus TAP FOR MERCURY IN HARVEST: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius + RETROGRADE DATES BUILD/FIX FENCES OR GARDEN BEDS: Capricorn TAP FOR  JULY MOON CONTROL INSECT PESTS, PLOW, AND WEED: Aries, Gemini, Leo, PHASES Sagittarius, or Aquarius PRUNE: Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. During a Moon, pruning encourages growth; during a waning Moon, it discourages growth.

THE MOON’S ASTROLOGICAL PLACE IN JULY 1 Scorpio 9 Pisces 17 Gemini 25 Libra 2 Sagittarius 10 Pisces 18 Cancer 26 Libra 3 Sagittarius 11 Aries 19 Cancer 27 Scorpio 4 Capricorn 12 Aries 20 Cancer 28 Scorpio 5 Capricorn 13 Taurus 21 Leo 29 Sagittarius 6 Aquarius 14 Taurus 22 Leo 30 Sagittarius 7 Aquarius 15 Taurus 23 Virgo 31 Capricorn 8 Aquarius 16 Gemini 24 Virgo

PHOTO: PIXABAY MERCURY IN RETROGRADE Sometimes the other planets appear to be traveling backward through the zodiac; this is an illusion. We call this illusion retrograde motion. Mercury’s retrograde periods can cause our plans to go awry. However, this is an excellent time to reflect on the past. Intuition is high during these periods, and coincidences can be extraordinary. When Mercury is retrograde, remain flexible, allow extra time for travel, and avoid signing contracts. Review projects and plans at these times, but wait until Mercury is direct again to make any final decisions. Mercury’s remaining 2020 retro- grade periods: June 18—July 12 and October 14—November 3. –Celeste Longacre s s ASTRONOMY s

The Big dipper Points the Way he Big Dipper, in the constellation Ursa Major, the Greater Bear, is one of the brightest and most easily recognized asterisms (unofficial star patterns) in the TAP TO GET T A PRINTABLE night sky. Depending on the time of year and time of night,  JULY SKY MAP the Big Dipper will often appear upside down or sideways.

TAP TO Late at night in mid-July, however, the Big Dipper is very FOLLOW easy to spot. It’s almost right-side up, with its handle curving OHIOAN JEFF to the upper left and its bowl on the right, as shown on this  DETRAY’S SKY month’s sky map. This makes July an ideal time to learn how ADVENTURES the Big Dipper can help you to navigate the sky. Various parts of the Big Dipper’s bowl and handle can serve you as “pointers” to other stars and constellations. The first set of pointers that every budding stargazer should learn is the two stars forming the outermost side of the Big Dipper’s bowl. These are labeled in purple on the Sky Map. If you mentally extend the line of these two stars up s s ASTRONOMY s and away from the bowl, you’ll find Polaris, the North Star. Polaris, in turn, marks the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. Most of the stars of the Little Dipper are rather dim. You may not see them unless you are far from city lights, but Polaris should be visible from the suburbs, and the pointers of the Big Dipper’s bowl will help you to find it. There is another set of pointers in the Big Dipper. The first three stars of the Big Dipper’s handle point directly to the four-sided Keystone asterism in the constellation Hercules, the Hero. The Keystone pointers are labeled in orange on this month’s map. Once you have located the Keystone, look directly below it for Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, or “Tiara.”

he final example of Big Dipper’s helpfulness is a bit more complicated, but once learned, it’s easy to remember. A simple phrase summarizes this T bit of celestial navigation: “Arc to Arcturus, then drive a Spike to Spica.” Look for the green dashed lines on the sky map. If you extend the arc of the Big Dipper’s handle, you’ll see that it points directly to the bright star Arcturus in the constellation Boötes, the Herdsman. The body of Boötes is often described as “kite-shape,” and the extended arc of the Big Dipper’s handle follows the curved edge of the Kite on its way to Arcturus. Once you arrive at Arcturus, straighten out the arc and drive a spike directly to the star Spica (pronounced SPY-kuh) in Virgo, the Virgin. And there you have it: “Arc to Arcturus, then drive a Spike to Spica.” Like the Big Dipper’s other pointers, it’s an easy way to remember the arrangement of the stars and constellations in the northern sky. Bear in mind that at other times of year, the Big Dipper may appear at a different angle or even upside down. However, it is a very distinctive asterism, and with practice you’ll learn to recognize it no matter how it’s oriented. For those of us who live in the 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and most of Europe, it is visible every night of the year. Being able to find the Big Dipper is an essential part of your stargazing education, so look for it every time you are under the stars. –Jeff DeTray FOOD

Cool Summer Beverages Thirsting for a refreshing summer drink on a hot day? Here are some deliciously cool recipes to try when nothing but an iced cold beverage will do.

PHOTO: GONCHARUKMAKS/SHUTTERSTOCK FOOD Watermelon Punch

TAP FOR + RECIPE

PHOTO: PIXABAY FOOD

WATERMELON PUNCH 6 cups watermelon juice (see Note) 2 cups pineapple juice 1 can (12 ounces) frozen raspberry juice blend 1 small can (6 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice crushed ice In a large jar or pitcher, combine all of the ingredients. Serve chilled over crushed ice.

SHARE Makes 12 servings. THIS RECIPE Note: To make watermelon juice, start with a 10-pound watermelon. Process small chunks of watermelon flesh, with seeds removed, in a blender or food processor until they turn to liquid. We recommend making more than you need for this punch and then freezing the extra in ice-cube trays. Use the watermelon cubes to chill the punch.

PHOTO: PIXABAY FOOD

Mint Lemonade

TAP FOR + RECIPE

PHOTO: GONCHARUKMAKS/SHUTTERSTOCK FOOD

MINT LEMONADE 1 cup sugar 2 cups fresh mint leaves 1 cup fresh lemon juice 1 cup fresh orange juice 1 cup ginger ale crushed ice SHARE THIS In a small saucepan, combine the sugar RECIPE with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add mint, remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let liquid steep for 1 hour. Strain the liquid into a bowl. In a large pitcher, combine mint syrup, lemon juice, orange juice, and ginger ale. Stir until well blended. Serve over crushed ice. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

PHOTO: GONCHARUKMAKS/SHUTTERSTOCK FOOD

Berry Iced Tea

TAP FOR + RECIPE

PHOTO: SAM JONES/QUINN BREIN FOOD

BERRY ICED TEA 2 cups berries, crushed 6 cups strong tea 1 cup sugar 1 cup fresh lemon juice ice cubes SHARE THIS Put crushed berries into a pitcher. RECIPE Add tea, sugar, and lemon juice; stir to dissolve sugar. Add ice cubes and serve. Makes 8 servings.

PHOTO: SAM JONES/QUINN BREIN GARDENING

Pining for a Pantry When it comes to preserving the harvest, nothing comes in handier than America’s Favorite Closet.

PHOTO: YINYANG/GETTY IMAGES GARDENING

ome women tin molds for steamed either in the way or dream of puddings, service trays impossible to find.) Spassion, of standing on end. Here, in the canning pearls, of Paris fashion. A wide, waist-high cupboard, all of those My dreams are counter built in a odd little jars—the ones of another sort of U-shape around the that turn up on counters perfection, expressed room provides extra and shelves and gather in shelves, cupboards, workspace and even a under the sink—keep drawers, bins, and place to eat a little meal company. Jar rings, baskets. I want a pantry perched on the wooden funnels, strainers, and just like the one my step-seat while watching paraffin sit neatly in a grandmother used to birds flit among the drawer, awaiting jelly- or have: the perfect pantry. backyard grapevines. pickle-making time. On It’s a small airy room of The counter space the lower shelves rest the the sort that Yankees used under the window is the black enamel canning to call a buttery. Opening ideal place for rolling out kettles. off the kitchen, it’s a cookies or pastry; bins What would an analyst serene retreat—small of flour and sugar are make of my craving for and snug, fitted with a within easy reach, and this compartmentalized door, preferably facing cookie cutters lie in wait cupboard? It’s easy to see north for coolness and in the nearest drawer. a desire for order; a need large enough to allow Ceiling hooks dangle to have favorite tools for a tall window to shed herbs, of garlic, and possessions nearby natural light and provide and onions. And behind but contained by the ventilation. Floor-to- doors in the cool lower pantry door; an ancient ceiling shelves offer cupboard, baskets and comfort in knowing that reassuring storage space, barrels shelter squashes, food is safely stored, the providing for plenty. more onions, potatoes, lullaby of the larder. All Everything has its and reserves of flour for of this, perhaps. Plus, place. High shelves lined baking bread. nostalgia for a sweet- with carefully cut paper One whole wall of spicy–smelling, good house special-occasion this platonic pantry old-fashioned pantry, dishes and equipment— is devoted to canning with a pie or two cooling the eggnog bowl and equipment. (Those of us on the counter. cups, the huge turkey without ideal pantries Wouldn’t it be platter and plates, the can surely testify that wonderful? meat grinder, fluted canning gear is always –Cynthia Van Hazinga LIVING NATURALLY

Town Dump: Friend or Foe?

PHOTO: MIKEPLOTCZYKIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES LIVING NATURALLY

n my town, we still But the dump serves Over the years, I’ll call it “the dump,” as an important social bet that I’ve recycled I even though it’s center, and we enjoy our a ton or more of no longer a final resting visits there. Neighbors cardboard pulled from place for trash but a chat, chortle, and the paper container to “transfer station,” where grumble about gardens, use as mulch. Discarded residents deposit trash politics, families, carpets and rugs serve a and recyclables into vacations, the weather, similar purpose. and more as we move Stair runners are containers that then get among the various especially good for transported to appropriate receptacles for trash, preventing grass and destination sites. aluminum cans, steel weeds from growing In our household, we and plastic containers, under the low electric make a game of seeing paper, glass, and fencing that keeps how few trips we need construction debris. woodchucks out of our to make to the dump. We toss scrap metal veggies. So, most anything that items on the ground, I always give the metal rots ends up in some where they will collect pile close scrutiny. Stuff form or another in one into a mountain of I’ve found there: a lawn- of the vegetable gardens. metal before being baled mower tire, an almost- Kitchen scraps and yard into giant cubes and new pressure-canner waste become compost. shipped off to recycling that I used for years, a Most of the discarded markets. We leave still- metal laundry rack (that paper that doesn’t end usable items at the small I also press into service up as weed-suppressing building that we call the for drying herbs, garlic, mulch between our “Free Mall.” and onions), and the six For frugal folks like homemade wire tomato garden beds moves first us, the town dump cages that currently through the woodstoves gives as much as it support a heavy crop of as fire-starters, with receives—maybe more. ‘Defiant’ tomatoes. the resulting ashes The manager has never Among the many spread on lawn and discouraged dump- items that we’ve gardens to help raise picking, except for scrounged from the the soil pH. We buy in aluminum cans, which mall: several colorful bulk to reduce packaging generate revenue for ceramic coffee and waste. And so forth. the town. soup mugs, numerous LIVING NATURALLY

children’s toys immediate use. policy options that (including a Big Wheel As Americans, we they say could create tricycle in great shape), generate around 5 a “zero waste” society many books, two cast- pounds of household with robust, continuous iron skillets, and a trash per person each growth. I’m not all that collection (but not a set) day, at an aggregate optimistic about the of stainless-steel cooking cost of many billions of prospects of getting there pots, most of them with dollars, not counting anytime soon. handles and lids intact. the health and If we didn’t have a If you were ready to environmental costs. dump as a destination start canning this season A market economy for excess, would there and were rummaging based on growth seems be less waste? through the mall last to mandate ever- –Margaret Boyles Saturday, you could increasing volumes of have found several waste. I’ve read many TAP TO READ MORE OF dozen clean and perfect books/papers by folks  MARGARET BOYLES’S glass canning jars to advocating all sorts of POSTS IN HER “LIVING take home and put to business models and NATURALLY” BLOG

PHOTO: HROE/GETTY IMAGES AGE-OLD WISDOM Encourage pollinators with companion planting Reduce pests and diseases with crop rotation Maximize harvests with succession planting Learn more from your garden with detailed records

MODERN TOOLS

#1 GARDEN PLANNER

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Planner makes planning a productive garden easy. Try the Free 7-day Trial with no credit card details required. Includes free online Garden Journal!

LEARN MORE HISTORY

A Salute to “Yankee Doodle” Here’s why it’s so dandy . . . HISTORY

ot many are English dictionaries was a and festooned, with a aware that the “sorry, trifling fellow.” bunch of fresh flowers N melody for A “macaroni” was in his buttonhole—as “Yankee Doodle” was once defined as a knot on to make 20th-century upon a time (as far back which a feather was “flower children” look as Shakespeare, in the 16th fastened. Later, a macaroni drab. If the century) a nursery rhyme was a effected haircut of the 1950s or sung to children. Later—a by a group of American later male long-hair styles century and a quarter loyalists who were aping seem absurd, what of before the American the wealthy British the “staircase,” the “snail Revolution—the tune, as encamped in New York. back,” the “royal bird,” well as the style of words, The British had picked up and the “she-dragon” of was in vogue in a version the hairstyle from foppish Revolutionary days, worn composed in derision, one young students at Oxford by this same avant-garde? theory goes, of Britain’s University in England who When disaffected Oliver Cromwell. That had formed a club named Americans tried to imitate treatment began this way: after the famous pasta dish their British cousins, they Nankey doodle came to of the same name. The had neither the money town Macaroni was a toupée nor the materials to get Riding on a pony that rose so high above the proper effect and With a feather in his hat, the forehead that in order looked ludicrous to British Upon a macaroni. to lift the tiny tricorn hat eyes in their homespun that sat on top of this uniforms. Here’s what few of hairpiece, the dandy had those words meant in to use his gold-tasseled surgeon in the those days: walking stick. British army “Nankey” was The wearer of one A at Albany “nankeen,” a sturdy, was also called a in 1755, a certain Dr. yellow-brown, cotton “macaroni”—the swell Schuckburg, composed fabric used in work (dude) of his day. He a song to the tune, now clothes. wore clothes so ornate— known in New England A “doodle” in old be-ruffled, be-frogged, as “Lydia Fisher’s Jig”:

A “MACARONI” WAS DEFINED AS A KNOT ON WHICH A FEATHER WAS FASTENED. HISTORY

Lucy Locket lost her pocket; “yankee” as a favorite cant term, such as integrity, Lydia Fisher found it. (slang) word to express thrift, stick-to-it-iveness, Not a bit of money in it, excellence, as in a “yankee and ingenuity. Only binding round it. good horse” or “yankee To the dismay of the He meant to deride good cider.” Students British, their song, derisive the uncouth appearance at Harvard University, in intent, became a battle hearing Hastings use the hymn. It was adopted of the poverty-stricken term so much, began by the rough-and-ready and ill-equipped New calling him “Yankee spirits of the American England troops assembled Jonathan.” army for their own and there, so he called it As with other cant smote the delicate ears of “Yankey Doodle” instead words, this spread and the British in defeat on of “Nankey doodle.” finally came to be applied many occasions. When The melody was to New Englanders as a nearly 6,000 British, popular with the British term of reproach. (Some German, and Hessian as martial music, and suppose the term to be soldiers laid down their when, in 1768, British the Native American arms to 13,000 American troops arrived in Boston corruption of the word soldiers and militia at Harbor, what we know “English”: Yenglees, the surrender of British as “Yankee Doodle” was Yangles, Yankles, and, General John Burgoyne the tune that they played. finally, Yankee.) to English-born General The change in spelling to Horatio Lloyd Gates at “Yankee” was not made owever, with Saratoga, they did so to until after the Revolution. the passage of the lively tune of “Yankee Dr. Thatcher, in his H centuries, the Doodle.” Military Journal, writes meaning reversed itself. Thus, the British that Jonathan Hastings, a What started out as a learned that fancy farmer from Cambridge, derisive word came to uniforms do not make the Massachusetts, who connote certain virtuous soldier, nor does name- was living at around qualities, especially when calling disturb him. the time of 1713, used coupled with another –Dorothy Cheney Quinan

TO THE DISMAY OF THE BRITISH, THEIR SONG, DERISIVE IN INTENT, BECAME A BATTLE HYMN. s s WEATHER FORECASTS

s NE’ER TRUST A JULY SKY. How We Make Our predictions We derive our weather forecasts from a secret formula that was devised by the founder of this Almanac, Robert B. Thomas, in 1792. Thomas believed that weather on Earth was influenced by sunspots, which are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun. Over the years, we have refined and enhanced this for- mula with state-of-the-art technology and modern scien- tific calculations. We employ three scientific disciplines to make our long-range predictions: solar science, the study of TAP TO FIND sunspots and other solar activity; climatology, the study of OUT THE prevailing weather patterns; and meteorology, the study of  WEATHER HISTORY OF the atmosphere. We predict weather trends and events by THE DAY comparing solar patterns and historical weather conditions with current solar activity. LOVE ALL THINGS Our forecasts emphasize temperature and precipitation WEATHER? deviations from averages, or normals. These are based on  TAP FOR THE 30-year statistical averages prepared by government meteo- WEATHER FOLKLORE rological agencies and updated every 10 years. Most-recent OF THE DAY tabulations span the period 1981 through 2010. We believe that nothing in the universe happens haphaz- ardly, that there is a cause-and-effect pattern to all phenom- ena. However, although neither we nor any other forecast- ers have as yet gained sufficient insight into the mysteries of the universe to predict the weather with total accuracy, our results are almost always very close to our traditional claim of 80 percent.

CELSIUS–FAHRENHEIT TABLE

PHOTO: PIXABAY s s WEATHER FORECASTS s U.S. Weather Regions

15 9 1 12 13 6 3 2 10 16 7

14 4 8 11

5 17 18

canadian Weather Regions CLICK HERE TO FIND JULY WEATHER PREDICTIONS  FOR THE U.S. AND CANADIAN 6 REGIONS Y.T. NUNAVUT 7 N.W.T.

N.L.

B.C. ALTA. QUE. SASK. MAN. 1 ONT. P.E.I. Southern 5 Atlantic British 2 N.B. Corridor Columbia 4 The Prairies 3 Southern Ontario Southern Quebec N.S. s s WEATHER UPDATE s

Steamy Summer Ahead uly will bring opportunities for plenty of fireworks, with Canada Day on the 1st and U.S. Independence Day on the 4th. J Canada Day weather will be on the hot side in nearly the entire Commonwealth, with cooler temperatures limited to Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and northern portions of the Northwest Territories. Most of us will have dry weather, despite a few showers scattered about. U.S. Independence Day will be a warm one in New England and most of the western states, but on the cool side for summertime elsewhere—pleasant temperatures for barbecues and most other outdoor activities, although a bit cool for the beach (provided that public gatherings are OK). Thunderstorms

PHOTO: PIXABAY s s WEATHER UPDATE s or at least showers will be scattered about nearly every state, but most will be short-lived and not put a damper on evening fireworks displays, even if private (where legal and safe). Another day of note in July is Parents’ Day, on July 26. A hurricane may threaten to send kids in Texas to bed without supper, but in most other areas, the weather will be favorable for picnics or for making the kids mow the lawn.

uly will bring mostly good weather for vacations, with temperatures above normal in nearly all of the northern half of the United States and J the southern three-quarters of Canada. In the Heartland and across the southern half of the United States, although temperatures will be near or slightly below normal, on average, there will still be plenty of hot days. Northern Canada will be on the cool side during July. July rainfall will be below normal from the Northeast westward across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley through the Upper Midwest and Heartland. Rainfall will also be below normal in the High Plains, Desert Southwest, and Pacific Northwest. Elsewhere in the United States, rainfall will be near or above normal, with well above-normal rainfall and many thunder bumpers in the Atlantic Corridor, Southeast, Deep South, Texas, and Oklahoma. July rainfall will be above normal in most of the Canadian Commonwealth, although Atlantic Canada and the Prairies will be on the dry side.

ummer’s steamiest weather will hold off until mid-July in most areas. Gardeners almost everywhere—in the Intermountain and Pacific S regions, northern Alaska, from most of Texas northward to Canada and eastward to the Atlantic—may be relieved to hear that summer rainfall will be above normal. I’m sorry to say that watering cans will be needed in the Sunshine State (Florida). Farther north, summer temperatures will be hotter than normal across the entire Canadian Commonwealth. Rainfall will be below normal in most of Atlantic Canada and in a swath from western Ontario northward to southeastern Nunavut and above normal elsewhere. –Michael Steinberg, Old Farmer’s Almanac meteorologist s s WIT s humor me grins and groans from the almanac

Old Glory-ous evidence: “Oh, what Signed Answer Candy a silly-looking thing The morning class had the American flag is! It A frivolous young been duly instructed suggests nothing but English girl, with no and enlightened on checker-berry candy.” love for the Stars and the subject of our “Yes,” replied a Stripes, once exclaimed national independence. bystander, “the kind of at a celebration where Feeling that she had candy that has made the American flag made a real and everybody sick who was very much in lasting impression ever tried to lick it!”

ILLUSTRATION: DRANTE/GETTY IMAGES s s WIT s with her explanations over 7 feet tall. He whether you are being and blackboard accosted him in English provided with adequate illustrations, the young and proposed that he food and clothing, you teacher began with should enlist. The idea will answer in German, the usual round of of a military life plus a ‘Both.’” questions: substantial enlistment The recruit quickly “Now, tell me, bonus appealed to the learned his answers Sammy Smith, man, so he consented. but never dreamed just where was “But unless you can of becoming familiar the Declaration of speak German, the with the order of the Independence signed?” king will not give you questions. In 3 weeks, Sammy, with a shout much of a bonus,” the he appeared before of glee: “At the bottom, recruiter confessed. the king in review. His ma’am—that’s what “I don’t speak a word Majesty rode up to you said!” of German,” said the him, and the recruit man, “so I don’t know stepped forward with That’s All (S)He . . .” “Present arms!” Rote “Don’t worry,” said “How old are you?” Frederick of Prussia the sergeant. “You asked the king. had a great mania can learn enough in a “Three weeks,” said for enlisting gigantic short time. The king the soldier. soldiers in the Royal knows every man in “How long have you Guards and paid an the Guards. As soon been in the service?” enormous bounty to as he sees you, he will “Twenty-seven years.” any recruiting officer ride up and ask you “See here!” roared who got one. how old you are. You the king. “Am I the fool One day, the will say ‘27’ in German. or are you?!” recruiting sergeant Then, how long have “Both!” said the came upon an you been in the service? man, who was quickly Englishman who You will say in German, whisked away to the appeared to be well ‘3 weeks.’ Finally, as to guardhouse. NEW! GROW BETTER WITH A HAND FROM US!

ADVICE ON: PLUS! how to test and pages for notes amend your soil and records seed-starting humorous and seed-saving anecdotes from fellow gardeners watering and fertilizing tables and charts for easy how to deal reference with pests and diseases too much more to mention! harvesting and ONLY storing $14.95!

In the 208 beautiful pages of this new, easy-to-use, full-color handbook, you’ll find all you need to know about growing more than 30 of the most popular vegetables. Whether you’ve never touched a trowel in your life or have been harvesting at home for decades, you’ll reap the benefits! Get one for yourself and another for a friend!

AVAILABLE IN YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE; IN THE U.S., AT ALMANAC.COM/SHOP AND AMAZON.COM; IN CANADA, AT AMAZON.CA ss s WHAT’S NEXT

CALENDAR LIVING Moon phases, August ASTRONOMY NATURALLY holidays, Zambia’s Explore with Putting to Use Farmers’ Day, our Sky Map Boulders, Rocks, Joke of the Month and Stones

FOOD GARDENING Super Summer Weather Signs From HISTORY Salads Your Garden The origins of swim fins

Plus: Weather Update • U.S. and Canadian Weather Forecasts • Gardening by the Moon’s Sign • Best Days to Do Things • • Humor • and much more in the August EXTRA! CELEBRATING THE ALMANAC’S 229TH YEAR!