Are you growing sunflowers? That is one plant I haven't grown. I will try to find some to grow in containers for next year.

image from pexels

​A little rain now this morning at 9:00 AM.  I went out to work at 7:00 and it was very comfortable out.  But when I came back in, I was a little sweaty, so the humidity was coming up.  It looks like it is just like a small amount of rain, but according to the weather map it looks like it rain all morning.  That is ok.  Then I will not have to water RIGHT.  I don’t know about you but at 3:00 AM when I am supposed to be sleeping, I come up with ideas of things to do.  I have fruit trees in the back of the blacktop, but they do fall down with wind.  So now I am putting the larger pots of plants there and putting the trees around them to give them support.  You see I was fortunate to have the West Fork Winners 4-H plant large pots for us to use at the fair, and now I have them home, I will use them as an anchor. In one hour, they planted 43 large pots.  I had the plants all in place for them to do.  Must thank them for their community project for their club.  Hope they record it in the record books.  If this works, I will do that early next spring when the fruit trees are here.    Temperature high today will be 80F(27C) with cloudy skies and dew point at 63F.   Stay cool, stay dry, stay safe.
 
Australia family and friends for August 7 Thursday with a high of 57F(15C) with  partly cloudy conditions with wind gusts are up to 8 mph.  I know Evelyn is going to be working in her garden on this day pruning roses.  They are starting to shoot, so now it is a good time to do that.   When we were there in Sept/Oct last year the roses were blooming and were just gorgeous.  She has many because they do so well around her place.  They are one of her favorites to use as a cut flower.  Good Luck with it all.  Stay warm, stay safe. 
 
I have not grown sunflowers.  It looks like I should try them.  I will see if there are dwarf ones to use in the large pots that are my gardens for next year.  Do you have them in your garden?  I know a few gardeners that have had to tie them up as all the wind has knocked them down. 
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August keeps us busy. This is the time when harvests hit their peak, weeds test your patience, and your sunhat becomes a daily necessity. But don't forget to take a moment to relax in the shade with a glass of iced tea and your favorite articles. Summer will be gone before we know it—let's relish each lingering moment. And don't forget to start planning ahead for fall while preserving your bounty.

Sunflowers: The Bright Stars of American Gardens
Celebrating my obsession with these sunny giants. By Don Nicholas
IIhave a confession to make: I’m utterly smitten with sunflowers. It’s not just their towering height or their intricate biology that captures my heart—it’s their unabashed cheerfulness and the fact that they’re basically the multitaskers of the plant world. I mean, come on, they produce sunflower seeds and sunflower oil! How can you not be impressed?
Picture this: It’s Summer, and the world is bathed in golden sunshine. What’s the first thing that pops into your head? For me, it’s a field of sunflowers, their big, goofy faces turned towards the sun, swaying in the breeze like they’re dancing at a Summer festival. Honestly, if sunflowers could talk, I bet they’d have some hilarious stories to tell.
But did you know that these radiant beauties have been around for centuries? They’re like the OGs of the American landscape, cultivated by indigenous peoples long before hipsters started putting them on everything from tote bags to throw pillows. Native tribes across the Americas saw sunflowers as symbols of nourishment and resilience, and who can blame them? I mean, have you seen the size of those sunflower heads? They’re practically the plant equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Fast-forward to when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, and suddenly sunflowers found themselves on a transatlantic adventure. Europe couldn’t get enough of them, and who could blame them? Artists like Van Gogh were painting them left and right, probably because they were tired of painting boring stuff like fruit bowls and old ladies with funny hats. And let’s not forget about the farmers—they saw dollar signs in those oil-rich seeds faster than you can say “Jack Robinson.”
So here we are, in the 21st century, and sunflowers are still going strong. They’re not just a pretty face; they’re like the superheroes of the plant world. Bees and butterflies flock to their blooms like groupies to a rock concert, and birds and small animals take shelter in their towering stalks like they’re VIP lounges at a fancy club.
Whether you’re a green-thumbed gardening guru or just someone who likes pretty flowers, there’s something undeniably special about sunflowers. Their history is rich, their colors are vibrant, and their charm is as infectious as a catchy pop song. So next time you’re out and about, keep an eye out for these sunny giants—they’re sure to brighten your day.
Taken from https://foodgardening.mequoda.com/articles/sunflowers-the-bright-stars-of-american-gardens/?t=116551
 Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse