Goodbye August

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I am not a fan of August and I'm always glad to see it go. I have to say though that this August has been a fairly tolerable one. The weather this year has been crazy and it seems like we are a month ahead of schedule. This August has seemed more like September. Maybe this means we will get an early fall and winter? That would be okay with me.

 We have also been fortunate to have regular rains. We are overdue for some now and it is frustrating that we won't get much from Hurricane Issac. It is also so frustrating to see the color green on the radar over your town but then you go outside and it is not doing a thing. I've been dragging hoses around for the past several days. Overall though, I cannot complain because I know most areas of the country has had it far worse.

 The garden is tired by the end of August and so am I.  I'm excited about getting some fall color. I hear we may have a significant cold front coming through next week. Bring it on!



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

Cyndia said…
I'm impressed by all the green, Phillip. My garden looks quite parched, despite my attempts to keep it watered.
August 30, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Lisa at Greenbow said…
I totally agree about August. Not a good month. I am going to be happy to see it go. I am so looking forward to any rain that Issac decides to grace us with. We need every inch. Your garden is getting that early fall look to it with leaves coming down and blooms drying up. Our garden looks like that too. The Ash Tree is raining ash seeds all over the garden. I hate that. I will be pulling ash saplings out by the hundreds next spring. What is a person to do?? Just grin and bear it.
August 30, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Les said…
I don't mind August, but I am a heat lover. It does however, make we want to take a machete to the garden to cut back all the rampant growth.
August 30, 2012 at 5:43 PM
Jess said…
Yes, three cheers for no more August... though as you say, it has been definitely more tolerable than usual. Here it's actually been raining a lot for the past few weeks, so I can't even complain there. But fall is absolutely the nicest time in the South, IMHO.

Its funny how a few hundred or so miles closer to the equator can effect how one feels about summer. When I lived in the NE I would always get a little depressed come this time of year because the true cold was less than 8 weeks away. Now, I barely remember what true cold feels like, but July and August certain remind me how awful they are every year! Almost enough to yearn for true cold. No, nevermind, thats a lie.
August 30, 2012 at 7:43 PM
Anonymous said…
Phillip, the fact that your garden looks so good at the end of august speaks to your skills as both a designer and Gardener.

Beautiful photos of a beautiful garden.
August 30, 2012 at 9:02 PM
Unknown said…
Absolutely beautiful gardens! Someday, I want gardens just like yours - so nicely incorporated with the natural landscape. What is the tree (shrub?) with the white edging on the leaves - stunning contrast to the greenery. Love your stone paths and rock work, too!
August 31, 2012 at 7:46 AM
Phillip Oliver said…
Thank you Kathy! That is Kousa Dogwood "Wolf's Eyes".
August 31, 2012 at 7:56 AM
Alison said…
It looks wonderfully lush there! Here in the PNW we are in the middle of our always dry summer season, and my garden is looking tired too. Like you, I am sick of dragging the hose around.
August 31, 2012 at 8:20 AM
scottweberpdx said…
Your garden still looks fabulous to me...all those stunning Hydrangeas!
August 31, 2012 at 11:00 AM
sweetbay said…
I too am not sorry to see August go. By this time of year I'm really tired of working in the heat!
August 31, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Carol said…
I understand how you feel, Phillip. I hate August too and I am tired of the heat. Your place still looks real good. I usually try to have all gardening chores done by August, but the older I get the slower I move and have ended up working more this August than usual. I am ready for fall and the sooner the better. Take care. Carol
September 1, 2012 at 2:57 PM
LostRoses said…
Your garden looks fabulous, Phillip! You obviously had a more temperate August than most of us did. Even though it's been so hot, I'm always reluctant to let summer go.
September 1, 2012 at 9:01 PM
Unknown said…
I just found your blog and am so excited! Your photos are superb! Thanks so much for sharing your gardens with us.
About August, we too have grown tired of it, great that it is now 2 Sep when I found your post (hee, hee).
Gonna go pick some 'maters. Hope to keep in touch!
September 2, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Unknown said…
I just found your blog and am so excited! Your photos are superb! Thanks so much for sharing your gardens with us.
About August, we too have grown tired of it, great that it is now 2 Sep when I found your post (hee, hee).
Gonna go pick some 'maters. Hope to keep in touch!
September 2, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Anonymous said…
Seems like I've also had an invisible umbrella over my house. Yesterday I helped decorate the Coondog Cemetary for the Labor Day celebration and we had to use a chisel and a hammer to make holes beside the headstones for the flowers on the grave. A butterfly was flying to each silk flower trying to find nectar. Battery went dead on my camera and I wasn't able to get a picture. Water puddled on Woodmont Drive less than a quarter mile away. When I got home nothing. I did get 1.42 this afternoon plus a tornado warning.
September 2, 2012 at 7:10 PM
Casa Mariposa said…
If this is what your garden looks like when it's tired, that explains why it's so gorgeous when it's refreshed! So beautiful!!
September 3, 2012 at 5:18 PM
debsgarden said…
I love these views of your garden! I especially like the stone wall and the variegated dogwood. I agree this August was milder than our more typical August, but I am happy to see September arrive. We have had plenty of rain the last couple of days. I spent this morning planting, despite the drizzle, which eventually turned into a downpour. I hope you got some too.
September 4, 2012 at 6:18 PM
Jeanny said…
I just love the garden and all the detail into it. Wow! I am just mesmerize. Now, I am very inspired for the new season. We better welcome September and the new season. Check my page at http://www.CheapSheds.com.au/ .
September 10, 2012 at 9:35 AM
Gardener on Sherlock Street said…
If only my August looked that green!
September 22, 2012 at 9:21 PM
Linda said…
A beautiful and refreshing series of photos.
July 16, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Karen said…
Lovely series of shots from your garden.
August 8, 2013 at 1:53 PM
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