Monday, August 27, 2012

August, the month just to appreciate it all…


January = is winter ever going to end!? (actually it just got started)
February = the Yard Garden & Patio Show, the Northwest Flower & Garden Show!!! Spring is HERE! YIPPEEE!
March = oh wait, no, it’s still winter. I guess I’ll make lists of things to do when it stops raining and I can finally garden.
April = there are plant sales every weekend…yay! New plants! It really is SPRING!
May = so much to do…no time to waste, how will I get it all done!?
June = why is everything growing so fast…can’t keep up!
July = busy busy busy…sunshine! Visitors! So much to do…

August = ahh…this is what it’s all about…


Used to be that July was my favorite month. It’s the first month of summer, my birthday month, and usually a month packed with friendly visitors. But as I grow older (*sigh*), I’m realizing how much I love August, it’s like the bonus month meant just for relaxing.

The garden is coasting now, there’s watering to do, harvesting of the produce, but not much else.

For families with kids the end of summer is near, as Labor Day weekend means fall has started for them. I’ve got a different calendar though, and since August is my new July that makes September the new August. Enjoy! After all there is still so much summer left…

41 comments:

  1. You and I are on the same wavelength! I've been feeling lazy all month, including this past weekend. And now that I'm finally feeling good about relaxing instead of working on my chore list the month is over...

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    1. Isn't it wonderful to be able to indulge your laziness? There are plenty of months ahead to tackle that list, especially for those of you in California!

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  2. I couldn't have said it better myself. August is really quite wonderful. For me, it used to mean the anxiety sets in. It would be the, "oh my goodness, its almost over" anxiety. But, since this is the year of summer, and since I have started my campaign - take back September for summer - all is well in my heart. And truth be told, I kind of feel as though our weather has shifted by one month. That is August is the new July and September is the new August...

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    1. I think this is truly the first year since I started blogging I've been able to let the "summer's over!" cry fall on deaf ears...thank you SO MUCH for joining me on my crusade! We've had a pretty fine one...complete with a lot of sun and even some heat. I've also realized those that start that chant the earliest are either summer haters or those with kids... neither of which I have to listen too! And yes most definitely... September is the new August...it's not just a state of mind!

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    2. Yes! all so true! I have even thought of t-shirts.... "September is summer" and then in smaller font "reclaiming September on behalf of Summer." I've even thought of jabs at the fall and winter folk but I fear it might hurt the cause.... so for now I refrain. for now.

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  3. I am torn. I have a lot to do in the garden, plants to plant, plans to make, re-arranging of beds to do, but I can't, because if I do all that now, it'll all die! So I am chafing at the bit to get started. So I am just watering and waiting. It's hard for me to enjoy my garden when I see what's wrong with it, but can't fix it (yet).

    Maybe next summer things will be perfect and I will be able to relax.

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    1. But you've got October and November for those chores! Do you really want to wish away summer...we've got a enough grey ahead. Just think about December, January, February....

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  4. I love September being the new August and I absolutely agree. It's warm and relaxing and the tomatoes are ripening. How old is your lovely Convolvulus cneorum? I have killed two or three (blush) but they still call to me, especially in summer when that silvery foliage is to die for!

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    1. I just picked up that Convolvulus cneorum in July (at Cistus). I'd admired it's foliage for so so long but was always afraid of what the flowers might look like. When I saw a whole table of them in bloom I knew they could make the cut. Now you've got me worried this will be a short love affair...

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    1. I wish you didn't have to go back to work!!!

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  6. Everything in your garden is looking so good, great idea to just enjoy for a while

    It's the opposite here. August is by far the worst month, it's just too hot.

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    1. I really need to be more considerate of the rest of the world. Of course my August is your what? November? Same sentiment, different month.

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  7. Ha, love your gardener's calendar! And hey, your tomatoes are looking great--I thought they would pull through!

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    1. You were right! The fruit is ripening just fine...the leaves however are still a sad sight.

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  8. Those are some great photos. And you're right, we need to remember to enjoy August, and September, and perhaps even October in our gardens.

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    1. Oh yes...we were gone last year for 2 weeks of October which I hear were just wonderful. Looking forward to being home for them this year, thank you for the reminder!

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  9. The best thing about August? The katydids and grasshoppers really get going, making afternoon sound just wonderful!

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    1. Oh that's definitely a regional thing! Although last night when I took Lila out for her last walk the crickets were going crazy! Hadn't heard them for awhile.

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  10. Loree did you get a new camera? Your photos are outstanding. They've always been good but they just look ... better now. So, according to your calendar, we're just about to come upon "August," right? Even though today feels like October. :) That's okay. At least the garden is happy and you're so right. We need to appreciate it while it's here.

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    1. Nope, same camera that I've had for at least a year now (thank you!). I have been (for about 5-6 months?) using Picasa for editing my photos though (thanks to Alan from It's Not Work It's Gardening, link just above) to do a little color correction and cropping. I really recommend it!

      Really it felt like October for you today? It was sunny and warm (high 70's/low 80's) and very muggy here. May tomorrow be better!

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  11. It really is the laziest time in the garden for me (well, except for winter)...hahahaha! I'm finding that aside from watering occasionally (now that our heat-wave has passed), there's not much to do. I do find myself evaluating the things I want to change...and have to really control myself...I MUST wait for the rain before I start moving things around!

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    1. Have you dug at all recently? I went to plant a Hesperaloe out front (ya, cuz I needed another one) last week and could not believe how rock hard and dry the soil was...I guess it was a good reality check for just how tough those plants are that they still look good. I also moved a Grevillea the other day. I kept telling myself "don't do it!"...but I did (so far it looks okay). May you have more control than I do.

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  12. August here in NH is the 'last hurrah' in my perennial borders but the containers are at their show stopping best and I have more than 350 of them... I'm a bit crazed and love my tropicals here in Zone 5... Your photos are outstanding and I love your calendar.

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    1. I just love every time you mention your 350 containers! It makes me feel like such a rookie!

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  13. The best thing about this August was that we actually some average weather.

    Some may find it strange that I was excited about average weather, but average weather has felt great after the dreadful weather we had experienced over the last 3 or 4 months!

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    1. You have all my sympathy. I would be going crazy if I had to put up with what you have!

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  14. We got the first taste of reasonable weather on Saturday and it was marvelous! We've been operating in 'just keep it alive' mode for so long (since the beginning of July) and I really think it's been effecting my mood. It was great to hang out with the humming birds, butterflies and praying mantises.

    Of course, we're back in hell at the moment. :/

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    1. We've had only .25 inches of rain since the end of June...it has me really thinking about how everyone in drier places has managed. I actually have Hosta in complete shade that are starting to crisp up. I can't imagine what the rest of you are dealing with...

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  15. August for us is squeezing in all those summery activities we've been meaning to do all along: take out the canoe, invite friends over for dinner under the cherry trees, drive to the coast and walk in the sand & surf. I was starting to have a too much fun to get to it all panic attack until your September suggestion. Yay!

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  16. I agree. August is a calm month. So is September. It's hot here but what a treat to see all the plants in their glory right now. To be outside? October and November in Tucson. Perfection. Love your garden and your spiky plants. Be careful with the glochids on that one cactus though:) We have those growing in our garden and I rubbed the sweat out of my eye while transplanting them....ouch!!! Happy Monday!

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    1. Just tonight I was moving the hose over to get a few neglected plants and my pants brushed up against that very Opuntia. Yikes! Covered in glochids. Luckily much more easily removed than if they were in my skin. I can't imagine the pain you must have felt...

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    2. Oh it wasn't cool at all. Two weeks and my doctor washing my eye out. I'll never do that again!

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  17. I'm afraid I'm a "chafing at the bit " person as well. I want the autumn to come on , so I can make all the changes I have been thinking about all summer...can't wait !
    Now , if my garden were as lovely as yours , I would be happy to sit and enjoy.

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    1. Having just seen your garden I feel quite confident in saying yours is lovely as well and you should be out there enjoying it!

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  18. August is a bridge, and September is August 2.0.

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  19. your tomatoes look great! Did you treat them? Or is it a case of ugly foliage, beautiful fruit??? May you enjoy August...september...and every other month! :)

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  20. August...in theory a sit back, relax, and enjoy the garden sort of month. I'm glad that is the case for you :) The garden looks superb, and superb photography too, a visual feast!

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  21. First photo and there's that T-Rex jungle I was talking about . .

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