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The Garden Awakens

Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
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Goodbye August


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
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Comments

  1. CyndiaAugust 30, 2012 at 1:24 PM

    I'm impressed by all the green, Phillip. My garden looks quite parched, despite my attempts to keep it watered.

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowAugust 30, 2012 at 1:36 PM

    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.

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  3. LesAugust 30, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    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.

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  4. JessAugust 30, 2012 at 7:43 PM

    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.

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  5. AnonymousAugust 30, 2012 at 9:02 PM

    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.

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  6. UnknownAugust 31, 2012 at 7:46 AM

    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!

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  7. Phillip OliverAugust 31, 2012 at 7:56 AM

    Thank you Kathy! That is Kousa Dogwood "Wolf's Eyes".

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  8. AlisonAugust 31, 2012 at 8:20 AM

    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.

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  9. scottweberpdxAugust 31, 2012 at 11:00 AM

    Your garden still looks fabulous to me...all those stunning Hydrangeas!

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  10. sweetbayAugust 31, 2012 at 1:53 PM

    I too am not sorry to see August go. By this time of year I'm really tired of working in the heat!

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  11. CarolSeptember 1, 2012 at 2:57 PM

    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

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  12. LostRosesSeptember 1, 2012 at 9:01 PM

    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.

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  13. UnknownSeptember 2, 2012 at 2:32 PM

    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!

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  14. UnknownSeptember 2, 2012 at 2:33 PM

    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!

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  15. AnonymousSeptember 2, 2012 at 7:10 PM

    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.

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  16. Casa MariposaSeptember 3, 2012 at 5:18 PM

    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!!

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  17. debsgardenSeptember 4, 2012 at 6:18 PM

    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.

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  18. JeannySeptember 10, 2012 at 9:35 AM

    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/ .

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  19. Gardener on Sherlock StreetSeptember 22, 2012 at 9:21 PM

    If only my August looked that green!

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  20. LindaJuly 16, 2013 at 10:54 AM

    A beautiful and refreshing series of photos.

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  21. KarenAugust 8, 2013 at 1:53 PM

    Lovely series of shots from your garden.

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