“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
― John Lubbock
This is how August has been…forced rest. Not so bad really. Without the slowing down, I would have missed so much…like this Blackberry lily or Iris domestica which finally bloomed after so many years. And nearby was this blue hydrangea, that was rejuvenated by the rain and cooler weather and bloomed again.
I especially loved walking barefoot along the grass paths in the garden in August, following butterflies, bees and 
dragonflies. And listening to the frogs, watching them sunning themselves in the pond. And there’s a lot to be said for sitting on a blanket on the grass and watching the summer sky.
But is has been the exploring in the garden that has been such a lovely blessing since I couldn’t do any garden chores. Oh and I had having a ball participating in a photography challenge on my other blog, Living From Happiness. You can see the posts here, here and here. I still have one more post coming up on Thursday.
So what have I been noticing in my garden in August. Let’s take a look. As I review some of my August garden highlights, I am linking in with Helen@The Patient Gardener’s Weblog for her End of Month View.
Weather
August kept summer going with its hot and steamy weather. Highs in the 90s and somewhat dry until the humidity returned and the storms were unleashed. We had about 4 inches of rain, and a few cool spells, but now we are back to the 80s.
Some of the best sunsets occurred in August which has me watching the evening sky for more magic.
Garden Views
I thought it would be nice to see a few special blooms from August first.
Daylilies were still blooming as August ended, and that is an especially long time. Again the rain and cooler temps followed by a heat wave seemed to spur them on.
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ bloomed again much to the joy of the hummingbirds.
Sanguisorba officinalis blooming by the pond. It did get a thrashing from the nasty wind, and needed to be propped up. It is a welcome visitor each August, and you will see it in one of the vases at the end of the post.
Helenium is also blooming in a few spots. I do need to add more of this great plant, and love to see it return each August.
Then of course the roses are blooming again. Knockout pinks and an unknown pink rose. Can’t wait to use some in a vase soon.
Back Gardens
I thought I would also show you a few of my favorite back garden views both inside and outside the fence…..
Let’s start with a big wide view of the back garden. Onions, potatoes, green chiles and celery still growing on the patio. The gazebo looks peaceful and inviting tucked into the back right of the garden under those shady trees behind the fence.
Let’s move in closer to the Gazebo corner inside the fence. We see the squash bed and large stand of Obedient plant.
Outside the fence, on this side of the garden, you can still see the Obedient plant or Physostegia virginiana that takes over now in the background. But here by the fence, you can also see a few other plants; Solidago, Rudbeckia, hardy Hibiscus moscheutos and Joe Pye.
If we get closer to the fence you can see the garden up close. There are a few bushes buried here as they sit close to another rain garden. This garden started with one Joe Pye, hardy hibiscus and Obedient plant.
And when we turn and walk back down the fence-line toward the house, we come to a perennial Helianthus getting ready to bloom soon. Next are the huge flowers of hardy hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ and part of the veg garden; tomatoes, pole beans and my part of the sunflower that survived the storm.
I couldn’t resist showing you ‘Kopper King’ again up close.
If we go to the left corner now, inside the fence where the rain garden leads into the Bog Garden, we can see Obedient Plant, Solidago, Rudbeckia and Joe Pye also growing. Although here Joe Pye dominates on this side. That poor tree is a young bald cypress which is being crowded out by the Joe Pye.
Now let’s go outside the fence and see what this garden looks like from the other side.
As we approach we can see the bald cypress again (on the right), and the large drift of Joe Pye.
And closer to the back left corner we now see hardy hibiscus, and a rose bush smack in the corner.
As we continue to move along the fence, and look back toward the house, the morning sun lights up this area.
Closer to the corner, Joe Pye gives way to Helenium autumnale and Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’.
As we go past the corner of the fence, we are now in the meadow. This section is very yellow with a great variety of plants: mostly Solidago and Rudbeckia, and a couple of Cup Plants or Silphium perfoliatum, finally growing as the deer have left them alone this year.
So there you have some of my favorite views from August. I am glad I had time to really look at these views as I rested and recuperated this past month.
Tree Following
https://youtu.be/nto9nkqooSY
I thought the best way to see my Tilia americana or American Linden tree would be in this storm video, as storms were plentiful and fierce in August. This is part of the same storm that ripped apart a huge sunflower plant a few weeks ago.
There wasn’t much else happening with the tree I am following, but you can see how resilient and pliable it is in the video. You will see the little tree about 20 seconds in for a split second.
With this update, I am linking in with Lucy@Loose and Leafy’s Tree Following meme that happens around the 7th of every month.
Meadow View
In this additional view of the meadow, you can see more of the sea of goldenrod with a smattering of Helianthus angustifolius, Rudbeckia, Joe Pye, Obedient Plant and Echinacea. I really should do a Stuck foot post in the meadow this fall or winter.
Pond
The pond in August looked clean and chock full of water lilies and couple of frogs, you can see here if you look closely.
Critters
Lots of flying visitors this past month. Besides the green frogs (aren’t they a cute couple) and the little garter snakes, there were so many dragonflies. I managed to capture two. I think they are a Cherry-faced Meadowhawk and a White-faced Meadowhawk.
Butterflies were also visiting especially the Clouded Sulphur, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, White Admiral and Monarchs….many Monarchs. We had a few throughout the early days of August, and then a male and female came and stayed for about a week. I have not found any caterpillars. And there is still at least a daily visit from one as they get ready to move South.
I am joining Anna@ The Transmutational Garden for her new Butterfly Bucket List meme the 4th Sunday of the month. I know I am well past the time for the meme, but I will include it here none-the-less.
When I was out checking for veggies to pick, I heard that all too familiar baby bird peeping that signals me to look around. I spied a Song Sparrow adult with an insect in its mouth, so I knew there had to be a babe somewhere. And then there she was….no tail, baby feathers and that baby face. Newly fledged, anxious, hungry and seeking shelter near a patio container. See how she has herself propped up against it on one foot. The parent quickly moved off drawing the babe away to more shelter which is a good thing since we have had so many hawk sitings of late.
You can read about some more baby birds on a recent post for Wildlife Wednesday on my other blog, Living from Happiness. I am sharing all our critters with Saturday’s Critters hosted by Eileen@Viewing nature with Eileen that happens every Saturday.
So there you have the highlights of my garden in August. What was a favorite highlight in your August garden?
Join In The Seasonal Celebration:
As I feel autumn’s call to celebrate the coming season, I hope you will join in the celebration. I welcome those Down Under who will be celebrating the coming of spring to join in too.
All you have to do is write a post between now and September 23rd telling me how you are celebrating the new season. Then leave a comment on the kick-off post with your link so I can include your link in my summary post on September 28th.
I do hope you will consider joining in the Seasonal Celebrations meme as we celebrate the new season in your corner of the world.
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In A Vase On Monday
The small cuttings garden is producing some beautiful fall colored blooms. I added some tall grasses and the burgundy, funny-shaped flowers of Sanguisorba officinalis.
A red gladiolus, some tithonia and marigolds were added to Helenium, Rudbeckia, Arancus seedheads and burgundy sedum flowers and foliage. I love the bright fall look of this vase as we go into September.
In contrast is my little vase of other cutting garden flowers mixed with perennials. Yellow and reddish-purple Antirrhinums are mixed with white Sweet Alyssum and one lone white cosmos. I also added our native Clematis virginiana, tall pink phlox, Thalictrum rochebruneanum ‘Lavender Mist’ and the non-native purple loosestrife I found invading my garden. Whenever I pull the loosestrife, I love to put the flowers in a vase as they are lovely.
This vase feels more sedate and summery as it brightens up the house.
I am joining in with a few memes this week as I prepare these vases: Cathy@Rambling in the Garden for her wonderful meme, In a Vase on Monday, Today’s Flowers hosted by Denise@An English Girl Rambles and Judith@Lavender Cottage who hosts Mosaic Monday.
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Next up on the blog:
Monday, I will be celebrating my 5th blogiversary. I can’t wait to look back at my first post. It is hard to believe I have been blogging for 5 years. Then next Wednesday, I hope to have another Stuck Foot post.
I will be linking in with Michelle@Rambling Woods for her Nature Notes meme. It is a great way to see what is happening in nature around the world every Monday.
I am also joining in I Heart Macro with Laura@Shine The Divine that happens every Saturday.
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