Choosing a watermelon for the Fourth of July? Slap it to determine ripeness. Good ones sound hollow; unripe ones sound like you're hitting solid wood.

Look for small new seedlings under your Lenten rose / Hellebores. They can be transplanted now to other spots.

Don't panic if you see a spider in your garden or landscape. They are your allies in controlling the bugs which damage the plants you want to keep healthy.

Examine the leaf edges of bearded iris for the tell-tale notches that signify the presence of iris borer. Squeeze the leaf between thumb and forefinger to mash the miscreants.

Mushrooms in the lawn are unsightly but harmless. They usually signify that a tree root is decomposing beneath the soil. Mushrooms are simply fungus "flowers". Nothing can be done to prevent them.

Lightly fertilize summer bulbs such as gladiolus, caladium, dahlia and lilies. Be sure to water after feeding the plants.

Collect the seeds from foxglove/ Digitalis stalks. Scratch the soil around the plant, scatter the seed and cover with a bit of earth. Water occasionally and the seedlings that sprout this year will bloom next year.