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.

I like it.

Sunday evening, I pulled the first two countertops from the forms. They aren't perfect. Nothing in this house is. I'm okay with that. I really like the look and feel of them.





The small holes created by air pockets will be filled with Portland cement before sealing them. There aren't many. The majority are in the center of the larger of the two countertops. I need to adjust my technique for the remaining piece. It's the largest at 102" long.



It's 72 degrees. The high today will again reach into the mid/upper 90s as we officially roll into summer. I need to spend a couple hours this morning watering a few things in the backyard. The potager and the grasses I planted last week are in dire need of rain. I've lost one squash plant. I believe the wind storm was to blame.

10:04am - The watering has been done. I'll do more tomorrow morning. I'm going to have to do a rain dance soon. It won't be pretty. It's 79 degrees, clear, and sunny. Humid is an understatement.

The first Yvonne's salvia blooms of the year. It reached 57" tall by the end of 2009.



The first hibiscus bloom. I think I grew this one from seed.



Milkweed. Wintersown in 2008/9. I hope to create lots more from cuttings in a few weeks.



A combination I like.