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July Almanac
July Brings Its Challenges
By Clinton S. Powell, Naturalist
The toughest month of the year has many definitions, many interpretations. I will boldly step up with calling July my toughest month. July, oh my, I do know it's the toughest month because of its effects. Effects on me, specifically because I feel the shimmering, weaving, waving heat on everything I see, and feel. But at night, the stars, moon other celestial delights are the reasons to be alive. See, I did mention one delight of July, the night sky.
Basically the foundation of July centers around a stagnate, stalled weather pattern. Pacific storms no longer have the strength to penetrate beyond the immediate beach. The Pacific Ocean towns, even San Diego, frequently are covered in cool fog. Residents of the beach area call this June/July Gloom.
They weep and moan about no sun. However, drive east 10 miles and July heat hits you in the face like a blowing radiator.
In our mountains, every July morning is cool, fresh and invigorating. We know the summer sun will arrive and very quickly, so we prepare ourselves for the tasks of the day, complete them and if you are fortunate, hit the shade until sundown. This is about as positive a statement I'll declare for July. I've been immersed in the ripping heat, decade after decade; as another one goes by, I dig down deeper into secret places, shady places where life truly is sweet. Currently I'm eyeballing an underground cold box loaded with fragrant red and golden apples.
For weather data, I use the Weather Channel. I don't have a TV but I still believe this is one of the best sources of recorded weather. Personally, I feel predicted weather is considered as dangerous as an algebra equation. Who put letters in math? I'm still at a loss, mathematically and weatherwise.
Record-high temperatures for July are stunners. Five days have been over three digits, with a monthly record of 102 degrees. The high temperature was on July 11, with the morning starting out at 54 degrees.What I don't have a record of is our daily humidity.
High temperatures combined with high humidity are true disasters. I was in Fort Knox Kentucky in the Army during summer. What a drastic change from Julian. I could hear my sweat dripping on the barracks floor. But when you are young and on the run: weather, who cares?
Now, how many people have air conditioners? Too many. These infernal machines suck up $20 bills as fast as mosquitoes on sweet skin. Hasn't anyone ever considered a swamp-cooler? With our low humidity, Julian is the prime location for these low-cost machines. Merely put one in a shaded area, run spaghetti line with water and shredded aspen barkfilled with water cools off so quick, so efficiently and quietly, you fall asleep feeling the cool breeze of November.
This does clearly show that weather will be what it will be, so be prepared; a rise of more than 40 degrees in one day is quite a shock to everything: people, dogs, cats, tree quirrels, even tomatoes and cactus.
The record low temperatures are even more surprising: with 10 days of 38 degrees to 39 degrees and the record low of 34 degrees. I'll take those mid-30 degree days and celebrate with a small fire in the woodstove, using my favorite pinyon or juniper wood.
The average high temperate for July is 83 degrees, the average low is 55 degrees. If you can't live with condition, it's time to move on.
I have not seen in the last decade a tomato can with 0.25 inches of rain in it. Our climate is changing and we are rapidly approaching weather conditions that will be unbelievable in our own lifetime.
July songbirds, specifically young birds, arrive at your feeder and if you are patient, patient every day, hand feeding is your gift of delight and life. The only consideration to feeding birds is keeping the food available. Once birds know you have feed, and always have feed, birds are a constant stream of colors arriving and leaving feeders. Water, however, is almost as important as food. Put out an old dutch oven or a shallow bucket. Put in rocks that are taller than the container, so small birds can land on rock, sip water and fly away. Specifically monitor your water; change the water whenever it gets dirty. Scrub out container with wire brush, fill with fresh water. Clean water, only clean water, is one of the basics of helping birds in hot weather.
Deer flies, black flies, horse flies, gnats, at least three species of mosquitoes are counting on everyone one of us to sustain their life. Lather yourself in pennyroyal, mint or other organic, natural herbs. These will work as efficiently as synthetic repellents, most of the time. Yes, there will be days when too many flying bugs find you like a magnet. That'll happen. Time to go somewhere else; this is their prime time of life and you are their primary source of life.
July weather can be tough. Use common sense, work in the cool morning. If you feel lazy as a hound, that's only normal. I enjoy seeing old hounds flopped out in the shade. Look and learn, drink cool water until, almost, you almost leak.
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