
August is what separates the real gardeners from the wanna-be gardeners. The days are hot, the bugs are everywhere, and many blooms that seemed so bright in June and July have faded to muted colors reminiscent of my grandmothers’ summer dresses. It’s a month that tests the patience and perseverance of many a gardener.
But August doesn’t just have faded blooms from earlier months, it also has blooms of its own. Pictured above is Verbena bonariensis which self-sows in my garden and begins blooming every August.
Its bloom has less to do with what I did and more to do with what I did not do, like deadheading it. I left the seed heads to shatter and scatter seed here and there. Then I careful avoided weeding it out earlier in the summer.
The new crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica ‘Coral Filli’ is blooming for the first time. It’s… bright.
But the flowers needs to be bright to stand out against the dark foliage. I’m glad I bought it, but I’m sure it is shocking to southern gardeners to know that this is a small shrub, expected to grow to only about 18 inches tall.
Over on the side of the house, the Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tardiva’ is in full bloom a week or two ahead of when it bloomed last year. This could be because we are coming up on the second anniversary of it being planted, so it is finally settling in.By the way, last year at this time the Surprise Lilies, Lycoris squamigera, were still blooming. This year they are long past their prime and ready to be cut back, as you can see from the one that sneaked into the picture. Now that's a naked lily!
But even with these other blooms, the star of my August garden is still some old-fashioned Hosta that form a small ribbon around several other Hostas and smell sweet, especially at night.
This is one of the plants that I would take with me if I ever moved, because I’ve had it wherever I’ve gardened.
Elsewhere in the garden, there are blooms hanging on from July, including coneflowers (Echinacea sp.), black eyed susans (Rudbeckia), my Knockout roses, tall phlox (Phlox paniculata),and Helianthus ‘Lorraine Sunshine'. Other plants are also providing that odd extra rebloom here and there including the ‘Stella d’Oro’ daylilies, true geraniums and ‘May Nights’ salvia.
And out in the vegetable garden there are sunflowers like this ‘Elves Blend' and a host of other blooms including zinnias, marigolds, nasturtiums, and squash.
How is your garden blooming this month? Are you hanging in there, enduring the hot days of summer? Whatever your circumstances and however your garden looks during these hot August summer days, I hope you’ll join us for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day this month. All are welcome!
It's easy to participate. Just post on your blog about what is blooming in your garden on the 15th of the month and then leave a link in the ‘Mr. Linky’ widget below and a comment so we can find you and visit your garden to see what you have blooming. If you don’t know what to put in your comment, answer this question: Does your garden have more blooms or less blooms this year compared to last year?
We can have flowers nearly every month of the year. ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Comments
Thanks for hosting Garden Blogger's Bloom Day every month.
How strange to see the hot-pink flowers of a crepe myrtle on your northern blog, Carol. What a shortie it is! But pretty. What's next? Southern lilacs?
Happy bloom day everyone!
http://birdsnsuch.blogspot.com/2009/08/summer-blooms-in-rain.html
By the way, do you really call them 'Surprise Lilies' there? Just curious about the local nicknames for things... my grandma always called them 'Resurrection Lilies,' and I think that people in the South tend to call them 'Naked Ladies'--or is that in the East?
Unlike yours it's a first-timer in my garden as are all my blooms on view today.
As for the number of flowers, I have more this year in terms of different types thanks to these little beauties.
Have a great Blooms Day and weekend everyone.
You have shown favorites from down these parts too, yes just shocking that the crape myrtle is a tiny one, but glad that you can enjoy the party like blooms up there. We have Royal Standard hosta, an oldie but the best blooming hosta by leaps and bounds, fragrant too. I wonder if that might be what you have as well. Your sunflower is a gem, just like you for hosting this wonderful day!
We have more flowers this year, and every year because I keep planting more things, looking especially for late bloomers that will take us into fall. Like the aster family. :-)
Frances
After the Deluge
Thank you once again for posting.
I've been neglecting my flowers because I put in some new veggie beds this year and my attention has been focused on that. But it's nice to see some of the long-awaited perennials finally coming out up here in NY!
Thanks for hosting!
My favorite August shrub, Hydrangea 'limelight ' has taken center stage and the Rose of Sharon has been in bloom since mid-July.
Wish I could find some space for a crape myrtle as well.
I think I have the same kind of Hydrangea, very nice!
-Cathy
It was so hard to keep my post to a handful of blossoms. We've had almost daily rain lately and we are green and growing.
The usual summer beauties like zinnias, hydrangea and magnolia are spectacular, but I shared tropicals this month.
Speaking of tropicals, DH just alerted me that Tropical Storm 'Anna' is headed our way.
http://healingmagichands.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-august-15-2009/
I haven't had a garden in years. I just moved here in May, and I'm only allowed a little strip of garden. Oh, it was hard! The dirt was bad, and there were so many old friends I wanted to plant. But I got this. I bet there will be lots more next year.
http://rambleonrose-rr.blogspot.com/2009/08/strange-days.html
Your hostas are DREAMY! Thanks for hosting!
Gosh, your garden is doing well. It is certainly true that August is a month that tries my patience. It is the "doldrums" between the fall bulbs and asters, when there isn't a whole lot new going on and a lot of the old stuff is really starting to show its age.
Like my zinnias. They still look good from a distance, but when you get up close they are tattered and sporting a layer of powdery mildew. The butterflies still like them, but they aren't the stars they were last month!
My tomatoes are wishing it was a typical August. We have been having hot days, but the nights have been cooling off into the low 70s, which really slows down their ripening. So do I rejoice that I can sleep comfortably with my windows open and not have to pay for the air conditioner, or do I lament the dearth of tomatoes?? Maybe I should put a blanket on them overnight.
Anyway, thanks for being such a gracious hostess, and I bless the time three years ago when I stumbled across your blog. I have met an awfully lot of really great folks through it.
Cheers from Toronto, and thanks for playing host to us all once again.
You have some very pretty flowers in bloom there, love the Crape myrtle. I've let my Verbena grow pretty much where ever it pops up, it seems to look good with everything.
http://www.indigogardensllc.com/Indigo_Gardens/Root_Awakening%3A_Unearthing_the_Essence_of_the_Garden/Entries/2009/8/15_Garden_Bloggers’_Bloom_Day%3A_August.html
http://www.gardenhelp.org
All in all, we have had an exceptional summer. Low humidity, lowish temperatures, with afternoon rains. With the rains came mosquitoes, fungus, and a test to the drought tolerant plants everyone planted after the drought of 2007. Because of these conditions, my garden is not looking bad (as compared to the last 2 Augusts.) My grass on the other hand looks like aliens landed giving nutsedge control of the earth. August equals January for me. I get through January it proceeds February and after February is March. I get through August because it gives way to September then the blessed month of OCTOBER. I love fall gardening - can hardly wait. H.
Love that verbena - I know it's everywhere but there's a reason for that, such a pretty pretty flower!
I don't think there are more or less flowers in my garden this year compared to other years, but they are definitely wetter.
I love those sunflowers, lovely name too, Elves Blend.
Your Crape myrtle certainly packs a powerful punch colour wise. Verbena bonariensis is just one of my all time favorite plants.
K from wet wales!
Thanks for hosting GBBD every month. I so enjoy taking a few moments to visit other garden blogs.
Your little Crape Myrtle is a gorgeous color!
Those are very cute sunflowers :)
Happy Bloom Day, Carol!
Jan
Always Growing
The first link was a mistake...that is from July's GBBD.
The second link I added is for August!!
Thanks, Carol:-)
Lagerstroemia indica has gone wild here in Lahore - Pakistan and found abundant in streets and roads. only murraya, arabian jasmine,rangoon creeper,tecoma and cassia fistula are blooming on top.
My grandma always called her Lycoris "suprise lilies", BTW.
I'm having a great time here with the edible portion of the garden and didn't get my Bloom Day post finished until this morning. Thanks for hosting...as always!
Thank you!