Bright Begonias

August finds annuals at their height of beauty, and these orange begonias are no exception. I found this lovely display at the Antique Rose Farm this afternoon, and the color was so bright in the sun that they scarcely looked real. But they were, and this arrangement on a white French bistro chair was charming. Note the salvaged artichectural detail in the upper right corner of this picture, and the old white shutter to the right of the begonias.

Kaila In the Summertime

My granddaughter Kaila spends most of her summer in the swimming pool where she lives. When I saw her a few weeks ago in July, she hadn't had too much time outside due to the weather, but during August, she made up for lost time. Look at that tan!

Here she is at dinner with me last Friday night, and she told me she was SOOOO thirsty that she needed a couple of sodas so she could drink them at the same time. I love this child--she is crazy, whimsical, and always ready for a new adventure, which I always have waiting for her in the wings.

A Real Horseshoe For My New Shed

My friend Alex is traveling during the month of August with her family in Montana and Idaho. It's strange to have her gone this long, but this year, she got her first cell phone, and has been staying in touch almost daily, texting me her experiences at the family reunion, and sending me pictures of the stunning prairie and the expansive blue skies.

Before she left, I told her I was looking for a 'real' horseshoe to put over the door of my new garden shed. She texted me yesterday, saying she found one for me, "and it was only three dollars!". What a bargain--she was so proud of herself to have found such a treasure for me. She's a great 12-year-old!

I can't wait for her to return at the end of the month. We'll get the horseshoe nailed up, and it will remind both of us of her great summer adventure!

Blueberries Are Almost Ready!

We should be able to pick our first crop of blueberries within the next week. They look large and juicy, and I'm impressed that my new transplanted berry bush not only made it through the shock of a new home, but is bearing a good first crop for me.

A Fuschia

I found a different variety of fuschia this year, and it's already doubled in size since I got it. It resides near my new shed in the pasture, and looks great on my wooden teak table. It sits in the shade most of the day, with enough sun in the afternoon to keep it growing.

August Garden

In addition to producing green beans, peas and tomatoes, August has brought new growth to other areas of my yard and garden. Yellow and pink roses still bloom, and the fuschias thrive in the shade of tall, leafy trees. My new blueberry bush has quite a few berries that are turning blue, and the raspberry patch outdid itself this season. I still pick up my berry basket in the evening and fill it just full enough to sprinkle some berries over vanilla ice cream, with enough left over for my breakfast.

Shrubs such as skimmia and heucheria are leafy and green, and the geraniums sharing flower boxes with primroses are bursting from their containers on the picket fence. The barberry bushes need trimming, and the hostas have grown large and lush.

Everything is at its peak during this month, and the grass is greener, and the fruit ripening on the trees reminds us of the upcoming harvest time. August is a time of beginnings and endings.

Yellow Roses

The Julia Child roses are as beautiful and hardy as ever this year. Look at this bright yellow bloom--it's so intricate that it hardly looks real.