July 5, 2025 Issue, Page 10 of 10

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NEWS 10• SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2025 The Elk City News The Procrastinator’s Guide to Gardening in Oklahoma: July Edition By Jeff Johnson know when to quit—kind of like spiraled into “zoodles” you’ll nev- You can still plant heat-hard- • Sunflowers – Even your kids roots and doesn’t evaporate faster your cousin after three Dr Pep- er eat again after the second try. ened herbs like: can grow them. than your motivation. So you missed spring planting. pers at the reunion. 4. Southern Peas (Black-eyed, • Basil – practically jumps out • Marigolds – Pest-fighting and Mulch matters And then you missed early sum- 1. Beans (Bush and Pole) Purple Hull, Crowder) of the soil. pretty. They’re the multitaskers of Mulch holds moisture, cools mer planting. And now it’s July Still eager to grow and fast to Born to thrive in Oklahoma • Rosemary – hardy and fra- the flower bed. roots, and blocks weeds. It’s sun- in Oklahoma—where the grass produce. Get them in the ground heat. These peas practically sprout grant. screen for your soil. is suspiciously soft, the trees are and you’ll be bragging about your just from hearing the words “tri- • Oregano & Thyme – foolproof PRO TIPS FOR GARDENING IN shockingly green, and you’ve con- harvest by football season. Bo- ple digits.” Tough, tasty, and a ways to pretend you’re a chef. THE OVEN FINAL THOUGHTS FROM THE vinced yourself that you still have nus: they don’t require much fuss, Southern staple. They don’t take up much space, It’s been wet and lovely, but July PORCH time because, well, it’s only 85 de- which is ideal for anyone who’s 5. Cucumbers and you’ll feel fancier just having always turns the thermostat up Maybe you’ve been watching grees… for now. already forgotten to water twice They’re the drama queens of the them around. until it sticks. storms roll in thinking you’ve got Welcome back to The Procras- this week. garden: temperamental but worth When should you water? all the time in the world. Maybe tinator’s Guide to Gardening, 2. Okra it if you keep them cool and hy- GREENS: FOR THE There’s an old myth that water- you’re just waiting for inspira- where our motto is: “There’s no Oklahoma’s favorite heatproof drated. Mulch, shade, and regular PLANNER INSIDE THE ing at night causes disease and rot. tion. But you’ve still got time. Not time like next week.” But here’s overachiever. But be warned: if watering will keep the vines hap- PROCRASTINATOR That’s not entirely wrong—but it’s much—but enough. the thing—thanks to one of the you let those tender little finger py. Ignore them, and they’ll get You can start things like col- not entirely right either. The saf- Put something in the ground. wettest, mildest Junes Oklahoma’s missiles stay on the plant too long, bitter—just like that ex who didn’t lards, turnips, and Swiss chard est, smartest time to water in high Water it. Give it a name if you seen in years, everything’s been they’ll morph into what can only like your gardening hat. in late July for a fall harvest. Just heat is: must. Even if it doesn’t survive, at growing like it’s on performance be described as okra clubs. At 6. Pumpkins don’t get cocky—they’ll need • Early morning, before 9 a.m., least you’ll have the satisfaction of enhancers. That means your that point, your only options are Early July planting = pump- shade, care, and maybe a pep talk. when temps are cool and plants knowing you gave it the ol’ Okla- window to join the garden party firewood or self-defense. Harvest kins by Halloween. It’s the only Treat them like houseguests that can soak it in without frying. homa try. hasn’t closed. It’s just cracking its early, harvest often, and keep the time you can procrastinate and need convincing to stay. • Late evening is a backup Because gardening—like life— knuckles and asking why you’re chainsaw in the shed. still look prepared come fall. Plus, plan—just don’t soak the leaves. isn’t about being early. It’s about late. 3. Squash (Zucchini or Yellow) they make great conversation FLOWERS THAT STILL WANT Water the base, avoid splash-back, showing up eventually… prefera- Zucchini is the gardener’s apol- starters. (“You grew this?” “No, TO BLOOM and call it good. bly with a garden hose and a sun- STILL WORTH PLANTING ogy gift. One plant and you’ll be the weather did. I just got lucky.”) Yes, you can still have color in Deep soak over spritzing hat that makes your kids shake (EVEN NOW) leaving anonymous bundles on your life: Standing there misting the their heads. Some plants love this heat. Oth- neighbors’ porches before school HERBS FOR THE • Zinnias – Practically unstop- surface doesn’t count. You want ers tolerate it. And a few just don’t starts. Great grilled, sautéed, or LAST-MINUTE GROWER pable. a soak that actually reaches the From Space Sushi to Spaceplanes: Why Burns Flat Is Closer to Orbit Than You Think By Jeff Johnson Last weekend, the internet went delightfully sideways when as- tronauts aboard the International Space Station shared photos of su- shi—yes, sushi—floating through the cabin in zero gravity. It wasn’t part of a science experiment or survival training. It was just din- ner. Or, as one astronaut joked, “the most expensive DoorDash delivery in history.” While millions of people chuck- led at flying fish and orbiting rice balls, folks in Western Oklahoma might have missed a key detail: space food might soon be a home- town topic. Because out here in Burns Flat, WHAT IS THE KÁRMÁN LINE? just off Highway 6 where the wind The Kármán Line (pronounced “CAR-mun”) is the widely accepted likes to argue with your car door, boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, sitting at 100 we’re not just growing wheat and kilometers (62 miles) above sea level. Cross it, and you’re officially in oil futures—we’re building a gate- space. way to the stars. DID YOU KNOW? The Kármán Line marks the edge of space—62 miles above Earth. That’s the line Dawn Aerospace’s Aurora aims to THE REAL LAUNCH? IT’S plane. those in rural school districts. We may not be launching cross… twice in one day. HAPPENING IN BURNS FLAT And Burns Flat is where it’s all - Tourism and tech investment sashimi into orbit (yet), but we are Burns Flat is home to the Okla- supposed to happen. as the region transitions from avi- on the short list of places where the SPACE MENU—THE STRANGEST BITES BEYOND EARTH homa Air & Space Port, one of just This publication reached out to ation support to orbital ambition. next generation of space missions • Beef tongue in wine sauce (Apollo missions) 14 FAA-licensed spaceports in the Dawn Aerospace for comment and That means we’re not just talking might launch. And that means • Shrimp cocktail with horseradish gel (popular because spicy flavors country, and the only one with a will update the story as soon as a about rockets and payloads—we’re we’ve got a front-row seat—and work better in low gravity) 12,503-foot paved runway—longer response is received. talking about paychecks, intern- possibly a hand in writing the next • Russian borscht in toothpaste tubes (actual beet soup in a tube) than the one at JFK in New York. ships, and maybe even a sushi chapter of space exploration. Sushi’s just the latest entry in a long line of bold astronaut cuisine. That means it’s not just built for jets; FROM FLOATING SUSHI TO restaurant or two if this keeps up. it’s built for spaceplanes. FLOATING JOBS FINAL THOUGHT FROM THE LOCAL LIFT-OFF—BURNS FLAT SPACEPORT Enter Dawn Aerospace, a New Sure, space sushi is funny. But SO, WHY DOES SPACE SU- GROUND CREW BY THE NUMBERS Zealand–based company that’s what’s not funny is the potential SHI MATTER? So next time you bite into Burns Flat’s spaceport is projected to bring 100+ skilled jobs to West- chosen our stretch of red dirt as economic lift-off for Western Okla- Because it humanizes space. something pickled and weird, and ern Oklahoma by 2027—and that’s just for starters. the next launch site for their sleek, homa. The spaceport’s develop- It reminds us that astronauts are someone says, “What on earth is reusable spaceplane called Auro- ment is expected to bring: just people... eating sticky rice that?”—just smile and say, “Prob- aiming for orbit. sponse has been received. All photos ra. This ain’t sci-fi. It’s a dual-flight - Over 100 new skilled jobs in while floating past Earth. And in ably something NASA’s already Editor’s Note: A request for com- used in this article are courtesy of suborbital rocket expected to break aerospace engineering, logistics, the same way, it reminds Western tested.” ment and additional media mate- Dawn Aerospace and are repro- the Kármán line (that’s the edge of and operations. Oklahoma that space isn’t some Because the truth is, while sushi rials has been submitted to Dawn duced in accordance with their pub- space) twice in one day by 2027— - STEM career opportunities distant dream for billionaires—it’s floats in space, Western Oklahoma Aerospace. As of press time, no re- lished media use policy. and then land like a regular air- for Oklahoma students, especially getting closer to home. is rising too—and this time, we’re Summer Activities Continue into July By Sheryl Ponce ages 4 and up. On Tuesday, July ages 2 and older, the follow- July 11th, Nintendo Switch Crafts, which will be Anything pants are encouraged to read a 15th, they will be having Total- ing Thursday. The last day of Game Day will be from 3 p.m. but a Pink Flamingo at 11 a.m., book featuring a spine with your Elk City’s Carnegie Library ly Crafty Tuesday, at 3 p.m., for the month, July 31st, the Game to 6 p.m., and this event will be or anyone 13 years old or older. favorite color. will be closed for the Fourth of ages 4 and older. Night for teens will take place for teens 13 years old and older. Registration is required for this With everything that is hap- July, but the rest of the month On Thursdays throughout from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The following Friday, Reading session. pening in the library, summer the activities and classes will the month, the library staff will Wednesday, July 16th, at 3 Ranger will be at the library, at Another event is the Library will fly by for parents and kids. continue. Lego Day will take hosting Summer Stories. July p.m., kids from ages 7 through 4 p.m., for ages 3 and up. Book Club that will be on Tues- For more information about place on Tuesday’s, July 8th and 10th, 17th, and 24th, at 11 a.m., 12 years old, will have “Ba- Other events during the day, July 29th, at 5 p.m., for ages events or activities, stop by the July 22nd, at 3 p.m., for children the stories will be for children nana-Rama.” Then on Friday, month include the Curated 18 years old or older. Partici- library to get a complete update. SWODA Awarded Grant To Address Transportation Barriers In Southwest Oklahoma Burns Flat, OK —The South Oklahoma. will launch enhanced transpor- at SWODA. “By informing our coordination, mileage reimburse- tional materials and community Western Oklahoma Development The funding supports a regional tation efforts in Tillman, Jackson, residents about flexible transpor- ments, and collaboration with outreach in collaboration with Authority (SWODA) has received initiative focused on helping WIC and Harmon counties. tation options and localized out- local service providers to pro- regional partners. a new grant in partnership with (Women, Infant & Children) cli- “This effort is about meeting reach, we can help ensure families mote awareness and assistance. In For more information on the Hunger Free Oklahoma to im- ents to access WIC appointments people where they are—both lit- have access to the resources they addition to offering support for program, go to OKWIC.org or prove transportation access for and for grocery shopping and/ erally and figuratively,” said Cris- need.” individual transportation needs, contact Cristi Williams, Mobility families across rural Southwest or farmers markets. The project ti Williams, Mobility Manager The project includes direct ride SWODA will help develop educa- Navigator, at (580) 562-5038.