New moon: In Leo, Friday, July 1 (Full Buck Moon)
Full moon: In Aquarius Friday, July 15
Visible constellations: Apus, the Bird of Paradise; Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown
Astrological sign: Gemini, May 21 to June 20; Cancer, June 21 to July 22
Astrological element: Water
Gem stone: Ruby
Flower: Water lily
Born this month: Princess Diana of Wales (1961); Actress Liv Tyler (1977); newscaster Geraldo Rivera (1943)
Harvard history snippet:
“Tradition has it that the name ‘Harvard’ came about not by decision of its residents, but by the choice of Josiah Willard, then secretary to the province of Massachusetts Bay. Grandson of Major Simon Willard, and son of Samuel Willard, who was for some years president of Harvard College, Josiah was himself Harvard educated.”
—from Directions of a Town, by Robert C. Anderson (1976)
Household tips:
- To repel ants, sprinkle red chili powder, cayenne pepper, cream of tartar powder, salt, or sage near ant infestations.
- To make a screw hold tightly, dip it in glue before screwing it in.
- To clean a computer keyboard, remove individual keys to clean, and wipe the underside with a microfiber cloth.
Going green:
- If you haven’t already done it, schedule a home energy audit.
- Take advantage of federal and state incentives to add insulation to your home.
- Try to eat one completely local meal a week.
What to do in the garden:
- Stay ahead of the weeds.
- Side-dress plants with a midseason feeding of compost.
- Harvest vegetables daily.
- Donate excess produce to a food pantry.
Trivia tidbit: The year 1911 saw a hot Fourth of July in New England. Records were set in Nashua, N.H., (106 degrees F) and Vernon, Vt. (105 degrees F.)
According to folklore: If the first of July it be rainy weather, ’twill rain more or less four weeks together.
Thought for the month:
“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.”
—Erma Bombeck, American humorist (1927 to 1996)
Do you have an almanac tidbit you’d like to share? E-mail to editor@harvardpress.com.