September snuck up on me! As it always seems to do. Summer tends to come and go in a flurry of activity as we try to fit as much in as we possibly can, both in the field and in our personal endeavors. My son will start school next week, and for me, back-to-school always signals the start of the fall season. But, even though I see the signs that summer is winding down, there is still plenty of beauty blooming.
While we didn’t do as much traveling in August as in July, it was still an eventful month. We did manage to squeeze in one quick trip to Boston for a few college tours (Yikes! How could that be?). But, overall, I stayed on the farm this past month, which was a nice change of pace from the hectic traveling and playing catch-up that dominated the previous month. By staying put, I could (mostly) keep up with tasks such as weeding, deadheading, harvesting, and other general farm care tasks.
August was a month of abundance here on the farm—an abundance of flowers, vegetables, pollinators, and…rain. In stark contrast to last season’s terrible drought, we have the opposite this season. On the bright side, I have not had to water the plants once in July or August; Mother Nature did it for me. The downside is that excessive rain can bring disease and increase pest pressure. Some of our crops have started showing signs of fungal infections, and our tomatoes often succumb to blossom end rotting or splitting due to too much water. Excessive rain can also lead to nutrient deficiencies in the soil as they are washed away during heavy storms.
But, despite these difficulties, we still managed to harvest some beautiful blooms this past month. The hydrangeas, zinnias, and sunflowers were the stars of the show, and celosia, gomphrena, and the first of the dahlias made a beautiful supporting cast. The flowers were abundant, lush, and thriving despite (or partially because of) all the rain. We started our 4-week late summer CSA, and bouquets featured all these flowers and alliums, sedum, rudbeckia, orlaya, decorative grasses, and ageratum. The arrangements often reflected the transition from summer to fall in its colors and contents.
Of course, I’m thrilled to see our dahlias bloom and take every chance I can to tuck them into our CSA member’s bouquets.
The edible garden was also plentiful, pumping out tomatoes, peppers, beans, garlic, cucumbers, herbs, and blueberries. I would often bring heaping bowls of produce in from the garden with a big grin. Growing brings me joy, whether it’s the food we eat or the flowers we enjoy. I have been preserving much of the abundance for enjoyment this winter when a summer taste will be a welcome treat. But, we also make sure to indulge in eating them fresh daily as there is nothing like the taste of a homegrown tomato.
August also brought opportunity. I had my first request for a bucket of blooms rather than pre-arranged bouquets. It was so much fun choosing and harvesting stems that I knew would bring friends together in a build-your-own bouquet gathering. I also had the opportunity to design mixed arrangements for an event close to my heart, my parents’ 51st wedding anniversary party (COVID prevented the 50th-anniversary party celebration). It meant so much to me to share our flowers with my parents, who often don’t get to see them in person and to contribute in this way to their special event.
Despite August’s often hectic nature, I still took time to stop and notice the many pollinators on the farm. They, too, were enjoying the abundance of blooms that August brings. They kept me company whenever I was harvesting or carrying out all the other farm tasks on my to-do list. While I worked, I was treated to sightings of butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, and bees zipping to and fro. It always makes me smile.
While I’m sad to see August and its abundance go, I look forward to fall. I will welcome the slower pace, the cooler weather, and the return to the routine that fall brings. I’m not ready to give up the fresh tomatoes, but I’m also looking forward to the quintessential bowls of soup and homemade fall bread. So, as we wait for that transition, I will enjoy every last remnant of summer and continue to hold onto the memories of August’s abundance. That’s what’s been growing on in my garden; what’s been growing on in yours?
THISTLE BE THE DAY 