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50 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | AUGUST 2018 | "Just living is not enough, said the butterfly. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." ~ Hans Christian Andersen Ahhhh the waning days of summer. It might be hard to believe, but August is upon us. There's just something magical about August. It's home to the dog days of summer, the hot lazy ones when the days seem to slow down to a crawl, inviting everyone to just sit back, relax, and let the heat wash over you. In the magical month of August, the Garden Club has an exceptional program in store for you. Robert Graber (fourth generation), will be speaking about the famed Graber Olive's history and process and will host a sample tasting event. The Graber Olive House is located in Ontario, California and is the oldest operating olive packer in the United States. In 1894, two years after planting olive trees in Ontario, C.C. Graber began selling vatcured olives. You won't want to miss this event on Wed., Aug. 8, at 10 am in the Main Clubhouse Ballroom. Non-members are welcome as our guest for one meeting, where we hope we piqued your interest enough to join us as a member. Back on the gardening front. One can only hope that when the insects take over the world they will remember with gratitude how they lived as kings in our backyards. That said, do you find when you walk in your garden you are an insect magnet? Did you know that there are plants that can help you with the worst of the pests? Garden Club Here are 12 plants the experts tell us can help to repel insects in the garden: 1. Basil: Repels house flies and mosquitoes. Plant basil in containers by your house doors and in outdoor areas where you like to relax or entertain. 2. Lavender: Repels moths, fleas, flies and mosquitoes. Lavender has been used for centuries to add a pleasantly sweet fragrance to homes and clothes drawers. 3. Lemon Grass: Repels mosquitoes. 4. Lemon Thyme: Repels mosquitoes. This hardy herb can adapt to dry or rocky, shallow soil and will thrive in your herb garden, a rock garden or a front border as long as these are in sunny locations. 5. Mint: Repels mosquitoes. Mint is best grown in pots rather than the ground because it spreads aggressively. 6. Rosemary - Repels mosquitoes and a variety of insects harmful to vegetable plants. 7. Dill: Repels aphids, squash bugs, spider mites, cabbage loopers and tomato horn worms. 8. Fennel: Repels aphids, slugs and snails. 9. Lemon balm: Repels mosquitoes. 10. Oregano: Repels many pests and will provide ground cover and humidity for peppers. 11. Parsley: Repels asparagus beetles. 12. Thyme: Repels white flies, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, corn ear worms, white flies, tomato horn worms and small whites. We meet the second Wednesday of the month, at the Main Clubhouse in the Ballroom, at 10 am. If you aren't already a member, what are you waiting for? You don't have to be a gardener to join. Come and try us out as our guest! If you would like to become a member, please contact Suzie Messick at 769-7945. Charities: Box Tops, Joan Blumenfeld, 845-6715; Gift Bags, Barbara Ely, 769-5659. Please support the Garden Club by purchasing See's Candy gift certificates from Maureen Keeney, 797-0011 or Pat Newman, 845-8146. Happy gardening!