I don't know about you, but I'm in complete shock. How can it already be Labor Day? We must have had a really enjoyable summer considering the old saying, "time flies when you're having fun."

With all the hot days in late August, the trees are in dire need of a deep drink. I don't mean the little dab they get from the lawn sprinklers. Trees need a LOT of water, especially during hot and windy weather. Put your hose (with no sprinkler head attached) on the ground at the base of each tree and let it trickle overnight. Do it now and again just before winter sets in, in late November.

Trees that get too dry become stressed and are easy prey for a variety of ailments and pests. Too often the tree can't be saved once it has been attacked and all those years of growing are for naught. Many times such a tree will leaf out in the spring, and then suddenly die. Sad to see and expensive to have it cut down.

Have you heard any of those oft repeated garden myths? There are lots of them. Some that resurface each year concern peonies, rhubarb and mosquitoes.

First, the one about peonies. Once and for all, you do NOT have to have ants on the buds for the flowers to open. Those ants are only there for one reason: food. The buds can produce a bit of sweet sap, which they love. But the big offenders are the aphids. These feed on the plants and excrete a sticky substance called honeydew. Ants love that and will actually "farm" the aphids by guarding them from predators.

When it comes to rhubarb, sometimes you will hear people say that if you eat the stems later in the summer, it will be poisonous. Not so, rhubarb can be pulled and the stems used as long as they're not too old and woody. There is a part of rhubarb which is poisonous: the leaves. These are always poisonous and should never be eaten, by people or animals.

Now for my favorite, the so called "mosquito eater." These do look much like a mosquito. One on steroids. They are probably a hundred times bigger than a tiny mosquito. These are crane flies. These flies may eat a bit of nectar, but usually they don't eat at all. After living for a few days, they die. The next generation will hatch out and become a brown caterpillar which sometimes causes damage to lawn turf. Possibly, a crane fly caterpillar could eat a mosquito in its larval stage. In its adult form, its not physically possible. Look at one closely and you will see what I mean. Don't worry, they don't bite people either.

Have you ever been tempted to dig up a small quaking aspen tree while up in the mountains? Don't do it. These trees do beautifully where they are, but make miserable yard trees, especially in the average small urban lot. These trees are meant to grow in what is called a "copse." This is a group of trees that are all connected with a huge root system.

There is only one successful way to get rid of one of these trees and/or their many offspring. Cutting the tree down only creates more sprouts from those roots. In order to fully get rid of them drastic measures are called for. You will need a bottle of blackberry brush killer. As you cut the trees or sprouts, immediately dab the cut surface with it. They callous over quickly, so do it right away. Your neighbors will thank you. These trees are prohibited in most housing developments.

Always do some research when choosing a tree. So often, that cute little evergreen that looks so nice when first planted next to the foundation has to be cut down later when it grows to full size. The wrong tree in the wrong place happens all too often.

The oriental lilies were so gorgeous this year. While I'm on the bulb subject, be sure to get those bulb catalogs out and send off your orders. Catalogs have huge assortments of fall bulbs to choose from. If you wait and have to buy from the local stores, your choices will be limited. Its such a treat to have these colorful flowers pop their heads up next year.

Some of the late perennials are coming into bloom now. One of my favorites carries the unwieldy name of Cimicifuga, bugbane. I have a variety called "Brunette" which has large nearly black leaves and spikes of scented white flowers. Also starting to bloom now are the Japanese anemones in both the white and pink forms. Also there are lots of tall perennial phlox blooming now, even those which get a lot of shade.

Remember "A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawnmower is broken."

Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. Since then, she has always kept a garden of some sort, growing everything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and house plants. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is an active member of the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls.