August Musings 2026
August greetings fellow gardeners and nature enthusiasts,
Sizable Walla Walla onion goes into storage.
Well, here we are as August marches on. This is the month when catching up always feels beyond me. Some crops, such as recently seeded lettuce, spinach, and beets, still need constant care, while others are being harvested, cleaned, and cured for storage. Then, of course, there’s the ongoing canning, freezing, pickling, and dehydrating of those crops needing to be put by (as we old folks call it). Unlike potatoes, winter squash, etc., these guys have no patience at all!
Crazy 9’ Pompeii tomato using pitch pine for extended trellis!
So for some time now, I had been thinking about making marinara sauce to can. On the 17th, I had plenty of ripe Pompeii tomatoes, so let’s go! From the time I started until Gene pulled the batch from the canner, no kidding, a full 9 hours had elapsed! Holy moly, that reduction took like forevah! Perhaps I went a little heavy on the tomatoes…
Meanwhile, weeds keep growing, watering is a must, and I’m plum tired. No excuses, girl, the show must go on. It’s now the 26th. I made a huge pot of spaghetti sauce yesterday. Making eggplant parm to freeze will consume the afternoon once Gene, my bestest helper, gets home from work.
“Sandra Elizabeth” daylily along garden border
To back up just a little, I have to say that overall, crops have been mostly healthy and the yield very good this season. Timing of care on our part, coupled with Mother Nature’s help at the right time, kept most crises at bay. One time, though, was a bit disconcerting. August 3rd brought torrential downpours. Flash flood warnings, emergency alarms on our phones, TV interruptions occurred repeatedly. Thankfully, we are up on the knoll, and other than not being able to even see out our windows (a complete blur), we were fine. A few replacement seedlings drowned, but that was easy to take. Not the case for so many folks across the country. By the way, I just planted some cucumber seeds yesterday, again the 25th. I guess you could say I walk on the wild side… or more likely just plain crazy.
Nasturtiums refuse to climb the arbor!
“Sandra Elizabeth”, my latest daylily, opened its first blooms on the first day of August. She was the very first cultivar that I worked with when breeding for lateness back in the early 80’s. Now lining the south border of our main veggie garden, she was at peak bloom the 19th day of the month, and still blooming heavily today, the 26th. She certainly brings her own kind of sunshine to the waning days of summer. Also, it continues to be a banner year for zinnias, small and large. Climbing nasturtiums extend every which way but up. So much for that plan.
Zinnias looking great this season!
It’s time to think lawns. Now is the best time of the year to renovate or seed a new lawn. Just remember that it’s drier than you think out there. Keeping seed moist all the time through germination (and until the grass plants get a foothold) is critical. At least Mother Nature is on your side with a lower sun angle and warm soil. This is the beginning of the growth cycle for grass, and now is when it will grow with vigor. But don’t hesitate to seed, because when daylight shortens enough, both germination and growth slow as grass heads toward winter dormancy. For existing lawns, however, now is a great time to fertilize with Espoma Organic Turf-Tone. For an overview, novices and experts alike, please check our website for all the info you need. Better yet, come talk with us; we know the way.
So as far as animal antics go, right on cue, the 1st day of August brought the first chorus of crickets. Temps were very warm and the song very loud. Keep those sultry nights a-comin’, guys!
Our beloved swallows left on the 19th. Birdhouses are now empty of nestlings. Bird chi is indeed calmer. Everyone seems to be more relaxed and enjoying time without the hubbub of raising young. Even juvies (juveniles) are no longer tailing their parents, begging for handouts. With one exception, we have a young hawk in the woods nearby that won’t stop screaming for parental subsidies. Rather annoying, I might add. Though few in number, the hummingbirds are having a grand time. Siblings are chasing one another, tumbling through the air, and ambushing one another at the feeder. We relish them while they’re here. Too soon, only our “regulars” will be the ones around until the sweet juncos arrive in October.
Can’t think of much else to say except it’s not too soon to mark your calendars for our famous TRUCKLOAD BIRD SEED SALE Thursday, November 12, 2026 through Saturday, November 14, 2026.
That’s it for now.
Judy, the plucky farmer