We are all aware of the importance of wise water use when caring for our yards and gardens. Our lack of rain in recent weeks is just one more reminder. Most of us remember the water rationing two years ago.

Don and Anita Jones of McLoud recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
They were married June 14, 1959, at the First Baptist Church, Tulsa.

Cody and Summer Lilley of Shawnee announce the birth of their  daughter, Peyton Nicole Lilley, April 15, 2009, at Mercy Hospital.

Magen Bowen and Andrew Pratt announce the birth of their son, Dylan James Pratt, May 24, 2009, in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Brandi and Brian Abbott of Shawnee announce the birth of their daughter, Riley Drew Abbott at 7:42 p.m. May 22, 2009, at Unity Health Center.

Jill and Justin Dunn of Princeton, Texas, announce the birth of their son, Cooper Evan Dunn, at 1:05 a.m. June 11, 2009.

Kellyann Taron and Kraig Taron of Shawnee announce the birth of their son, Alexander Joseph Taron, at 3:02 a.m. June 6, 2009, at Unity Health Center, North Campus.

Dry weather is not unusual in Oklahoma. Gardeners struggle hard enough to maintain healthy plants when extreme high temperatures are accompanied by lack of rain. What compounds the stress of this year’s dry weather is that it follows the wild weather extremes experienced earlier this year.

An internationally known Christian music group, Jon Stemkoski’s Celebrant Singers, will appear in a free concert 7:30 p.m. today at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, 632 N. Kickapoo.

When should I prune my hydrangeas, they have not been blooming?
 
Hydrangeas would be considered a spring flowering shrub. Prune all spring flowering shrubs right after they are done flowering for the season. The buds for bloom set will form on the stems and twigs that grow during the rest of the current growing season.

Hydrangea arborescens “Annabelle” is a shrub with white sterile blooms that appear every year. The blooms can be up to 10 inches in diameter. This year’s blooms are spectacular. The plants shown in the photograph are grown by Jackie Shepherd and were in partial shade when they were planted several years ago. Recently a tree had to be removed so that they get full southern sun until 3 p.m. and they are now thriving.

While replacing your appliances as frequently as I suggested in last week’s column may be environmentally responsible, it is expensive to do. A study by a team of researchers at the University of Michigan estimated that scheduling your refrigerator purchases to optimize energy usage may increase what you pay by 36 to 50 percent, because even if you are saving $50 a year on electricity, it takes a long time to add up to the cost of a new fridge.

Nikki  Day of Maud and Shane Keener of Atoka announce their  engagement and aproaching marriage 7 p.m. July 12 at Fossil Creek Ranch.

Jana and Jeremiah Johnson of Tecumseh announce the birth of their daughter, Abbigail Warnock Johnson, June 11, 2009, at Unity  Health Center, North campus.

Jenny and Francisco Quezada-Celis of Shawnee announce the birth of their son, Angel Javier Quezada-Celis, at 1:45 p.m. June 10, 2009, at Unity Health Center, North Campus.

Scott and Angela Culbreath of Noble announce the birth of their daughter, Chelsea Grace Culbreath, at 11:45 a.m. April 18, 2009, at Norman Regional Hospital.

Kelly and Joel Chesser of Meeker announce the birth of their daughter, Kimber Lynn Chesser at 3:23 p.m. June 3, 2009, at Unity Health Center, North Campus.

Dana and Daniel Timmons of Texas announce the birth of their daughter, Faith Marie Timmons, 9:45 a.m. May 29, 2009, at Granbury, Texas.

Tavi Ponder and Michael Brzozowski, both of Oklahoma City, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage on June 27, 2009, at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Harrah. A reception and dance will follow at the Aldridge Hotel in Shawnee.

Gloria and Joe Fullbright of Shawnee celebrated their 35th anniversary. They were married June 15, 1974, in Shawnee.