Wednesday, August 4, 2010

August already.

It's August. It's been cool the past few days. Temperatures have remained in the 80s as clouds roll by with no real rainfall. We've had a few scattered showers here and there. The soil beneath the large trees is still dry and crunchy. More rain likely today, tomorrow, and apparently the rest of the week. I'm not placing any bets.

In the yard, the hosta are blooming. So far, only the white blooms have opened. They're so clean and crisp this time of year. In another week or two, they'll turn ugly and brown like azaleas in the spring.



Salvia Coral Nymph is blooming on the slope by the front walk.



In the backyard, butterflies find the milkweed irresistible. Just a few feet away, Joe Pye Weed is beginning to attract visitors. The bees arrived first.



Tomorrow, I plan to attack the front slope. I'm not sure what I plan to do here just yet, but it needs to be something different. Maybe some sedum groundcovers, propagated from my own collection. Maybe some stones and rocks, a new home for the succulent bed out back. Maybe just mow it down and sow grass seed this fall. I haven't decided yet. A little float time on the lake might reveal a whole new direction.

It's 81 degrees. The high today should be in the mid 90s. August has arrived.

4 comments:

L. D. said...

The summer has gone fast. We were blessed with too much rain and yet we couldn't look any better. We sometimes have crunch dead grass and the flowers would be gone by now. Your variety of plants are splendid. I hope you can keep the variety even if you simplify.

Jimmy said...

I love Coral Nymph. Have it all over the yard. We are sitting in Storks in Wilton Manors at present. I keep thinking you might be in town here visiting...It is cooler here than NC.

Tom - 7th Street Cottage said...

I haven't been there in years.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Tom,
I like that color of salvia. I was going to extend my side beds a bit this year by pulling out a few inches of grass, but didn't get it done. I hope you get your project done. It sounds like a big one.