Potager Field Notes: July

July brings the height of summer warmth to Fall River. The potager is alive with the buzz of bees, vibrant blooms, and lush greenery stretching toward the midsummer sun. Long, bright days allow us to move seamlessly between garden harvesting and studio crafting as the summer season reaches its peak.

IN THE POTAGER 
July in the potager is a time of steady gathering. Early morning is the best time to harvest before the day’s heat sets in. We are harvesting fresh cuttings of lavender, mint, lemon balm, and calendula. Flower petals are spread across open-air screens to dry in the breeze, while sweet-smelling herb bunches hang from the rafters to preserve their essential oils for future formulations.

IN THE STUDIO 
The studio is filled with breezy summer energy. We spend warm afternoons crafting cold-processed soaps on the back deck and pouring summer candle favorites like Sea Witch and Midsummer. Curing shelves are lined with handcrafted soaps made from botanicals harvested during the previous season, blending notes of coastal sea salt, garden mint, and sweet flora.

CRAFTSMANSHIP 
Drying botanicals is a slow, traditional art form that relies on patience and ideal atmospheric conditions. By drying our herbs on open screens and in shaded rafters, we retain their rich colors, natural fragrances, and therapeutic properties, ensuring every candle, soap, and simmer spell carries the true essence of our summer potager.

JULY STARGAZING 
The New Moon on July 14 creates exceptionally dark sky conditions, perfect for viewing the glowing, starry arm of the Milky Way. Toward late July, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower begins its peak, filling warm summer nights with streaks of shooting stars. On July 29 watch for the full Buck Moon.

BOTANICAL FOLKLORE 
In historical herbalism, midsummer flora was believed to store the raw energy of the sun at its highest celestial path. Calendula blossoms, often called "sun’s bride," were gathered at noon when their golden heads were fully open, valued for their soothing skin properties and as symbols of light, protection, and cheer.