Early August Blooms and Produce

Early August Blooms and Produce

As we head into August we are usually dealing with high temperatures which takes its toll on the plants, shrubs and lawn. This year though as we have had many cool days, the flowers in general seem more vibrant and the lawn is still very lush and green.

The hydrangea macrophylla varieties are now fading and the hydrangea paniculata steals the show with its heavy white cone shaped blooms. This shrub will flower well into fall; the flowers gradually turn from white to pale pink.

The sweet peas are certainly petering out now but I still have plenty of colour in the hanging baskets and containers as well as a number of annual rudbeckias in flower, the odd poppy and of course sunflowers some of which reseeded from last year.. I am not necessarily a dahlia fan but they too add a burst of colour at this time of the year. (Pink dahlia bloom photos courtesy of my daughter’s garden).

Perennials currently blooming are phlox, malva (sylvestris), heleniums, rudbeckias, gallardias and red lychnis as well as different varieties of coreopsis.

It seems we wait endlessly for things to get going in the vegetable garden and then suddenly with the heat there is a spurt of growth and everything is ripening all at once. I am very pleased that our peach tree is disease free this year and has many peaches on it. The grapes are ripening too and will be ready to harvest later in the month. The herbs including basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, chives and cilantro seem to thrive in the heat and I have them placed near the front door for easy pickings. \

Last but not least, the roses are blooming for the second time. Although not as many as earlier in the year they too still play a part in adding colour to the garden.