Celebrate Summer Joys: August in the Garden, Week 3 of a Month of Gratitude Practice

If July’s garden stars were purple poppies, August’s are sunflowers.

This variety is Sunspot and I’m definitely smitten (so are the bees!). I tucked seeds in various places around the garden and am loving seeing more and more open each day.

They’re supposed to be 24-48 inches tall with 10-12 inch wide flowers, but most of my flowers are a bit smaller and some of my plants are taller. I don’t mind; they’re delightful just as they are. I’m mesmerized by their colors and long to paint them.

My sister-in-law sent me canna bulbs divided from her plants. They’re lovely. The hummingbirds are frequent visitors. I’ve never grown canna before and didn’t know they formed such cool seed pods. Sadly the Japanese beetles enjoy the leaves.

I’m trying not to let the Japanese beetles get me down, focusing on gratitude instead of frustrations, but my patience with them is wearing thin. They seem to be munching a wider variety of plants this year than in the past.

At least they’re not eating ALL the dahlias.

I grew a few plants from seed including this red Bishop’s Children dahlia.

It’s always fun to see what colors you’ll get.

I also planted some tubers I picked up at a big box store (in the spring I can’t resist) including these Zingaro dahlias.

I’ve never had trouble growing the cheap bagged bulbs and often find they divide into more plants than what’s labeled. Perhaps next year I’ll order some fancier varieties and purchase them from a specialty source. Maybe a “button” or “pom-pom” type.

Do you grow dahlias? Do you have a favorite variety?

More zinnia colors have been showing up. Fun combinations with other plants. I especially love this pink beside the orange nasturtiums and paler pink cosmos.

I didn’t keep track of which nasturtium varieties I planted where and am surprised by the colors and sizes of some of the plants and flowers. I’m sure some variation is due to differing locations.

This Cherry Rose Jewel nasturtium gets more sun and has deeper red flowers than some of the other plants of a similar color. And not all of the Baby Orange nasturtiums are as petite and bright as these are.

Even so, they all make me happy and I’m not sure if I could choose just one variety to grow.

The Japanese anemones make me happy, too.

They’re one of my favorite perennials.

We’re eating from the garden every day. Such a delight.

There are so many delights in my garden. I’m grateful for so much. For help with harvests.

For the plants. The flowers. The produce. I’m also grateful for the space itself and being able to spend time in it.

In the heat of August, it’s hard to imagine cold weather keeping me indoors, but I know those days are coming. Keep savoring, I remind myself. Keep savoring the garden. Keep savoring summer joys.

What garden or summer joys have you been savoring this week?