The Weekly Gardener 1

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High Summer

Strange Weather

Purple Phlox

After a week of record-breaking heat, we experienced heavy rainfall and an unexpectedly cold streak, with nighttime temperatures dropping into the fifties.

The unpredictable weather confused the garden, and in the absence of reliable patterns, it stopped blooming altogether.

The perennials look green and healthy, and a lot more well-behaved than I'm used to seeing at this point, as if they are preparing for what may come next.

The late summer perennials bloomed ahead of schedule, except for the plantain lilies, the iconic August flowers, which didn't bloom at all.

The hellebores wilted in the heat, something I haven't seen in fifteen years, and only bounced back after the abundant rain despite my constant watering.

After the weather whiplash, the temperatures stabilized in the low to mid eighties, accompanied by sunny and dry days.

The garden took on the appearance of mid-September, including whatever autumn flowers choose to bloom.

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Quiet August

Foxgloves

Once the early summer enthusiasm waned, the garden turned to a quiet mood in August, as if on standby and awaiting something.

Typically, at this point, plants begin shedding excess foliage in anticipation of fall, but this year they remained compact and modest throughout the season, avoiding the usual summer's end chaos.

The weather is cooler than usual, the leaves acquired the bronzed, mature late season look, even the geese began their yearly migration.

All the subtle patterns of nature point to an early fall, and possibly a cold winter.

Still in production mode, the tomatoes and eggplants are finally bearing fruit, and the holy basil is ready for seed collection.

All in all, summer has been lovely and I wish it would never end.