Hi, I have similar feelings about this time of year, remembering the earlier flowers, and looking forward to the later ones, and realizing that you have got some things wrong, or that you want tochange for next year, or been unable to do something that you promised yourself you would dothis year, I think this is a sad time of year, when it's too late to dosome jobs, and too early to do others, and then there's the horrible weather to contend with, which you know will only get worse, and on top of all that, you're another year older, but never mind, there is always next year :-) Derek.

it depends on what plants you are growing. I have managed to get a very colourful herbaceous border that lasts from the earliest Delphiniums in April through to the Heleniums after the first frost. At present, i have phlox paniculata, Heleniums, Echinacea, Kniphofia, Rudbeckia, Sanguisorba, Coreopsis, Salvia, Gaillardia, Lythrum, Perovskia, Monarda, Agastache and Persicaria amplexicaulis 'firetail' all looking superb (i've probably missed a few)

Bedding plants will start to look tired now but if you give then a good tidy, dead head and then liquid feed with a half strength feed every watering, you'll get lots of colour well into October.

Plan your borders or tubs, do a bit of research into flowering periods and there's no reason why you can't have colour all year round

Hi Badfish, I also have plants in flower now, such as Echinacea, helenium, Phlox, kniphophia, russell lupins, hemerocallis, leucanthemum, Potentilla, tiarella, Cyanara cardunculus, Eryngium agavifolia, plus a few more, but still the garden seems less colourful than it did earlier in the year, most of my autumn flowering plants are still at the bud stage, Derek.

It's August, a difficult time in the garden, the dog days of summer. Even the trees here look dusty and tired... but autumn is approaching (its already dark by 8.45) and at least once September comes, I've got some lovely autumn work to do - digging up and repositioning and replanting. Once the Nerines appear (late October) I get that sinking feeling - it's all over bar the shouting for another year. Mid November, I'm done till next February, trying to find ways of keeping entertained during those long, dark days... Give me spring every time, but what a fabulous spring we had this year, and a long growing season because of the mild winter last year.

I bought some crocus and narcissi yesterday and the gc had 50% off all seeds so thats cheered me up, and the peppers and toms are doing really well in the gh.......its november thats my depressing month.......

Bamboo, a girl after my own heart, spring every time for me too, I'm quilting a throw this winter, should keep my knees warm.....unless its a mild winter again ( suited me last year except the awful storms)

Pamg - I'm twitching a bit about this winter - we had a sudden influx of migratory starlings and blue tits a week and a half ago, and they don't usually come here till October. I am rather wondering what they know that we don't... but it might just mean it's gonna get cold in the Nordic/north Russian regions early this year rather than anything happening early here. As for quilting, I don't know how you can see - I need bright sunlight for sewing or painting...

Everyone start looking at the positives that are in flower this August

Merlin's saying he/she's got loads in flower - but also saying they feel a bit in limbo - typical August I reckon, betwixt and between... best thing to do with August is go on holiday somewhere or just have lots of barbies and invite people round to sit in the still flowering garden, or sunbathe.

Hi Bamboo, I would love the chance to sunbathe, but ever since the jet stream sank below E ngland, we have had nothingbut rain, high winds, and low temperatures :-) , and if it gets warm again, loads of jobs to do in the garden, so no chance of sunbathing, Derek.

Well folks, its been nice here for a few days, though a bit cooler and i still have plenty of work to do in the garden. Anybody with nothing to do is welcome to a working break over here!

I am glad I'm not the only one to feel a bit low about the garden I did a lot of tidying up and now the garden looks
like it has shrunk, all my hostas are fading flowers are gone over and cut down, what can I put in for a bit of interest as I seem to have all green
Thanks

Yes, it's like watching a fire die out in the fireplace.

I know what you mean Bamboo our swallows went in early august, usually early september......
the forecast for this week is cold nights, we have had frost early september here, never august.......

Merlinbabydog, stay positive, you may just be having a bad day!

Bamboo, I note your comment about migratory starlings and blue tits. Living near a river estuary we see thousands of Canada? Geese meeting on the marshes and heading south for the winter. This normally starts in September ... Alarmingly they started a week ago this year. As you say ... What do they know that we don't? To be forewarned is forearmed !

Well now, that's very interesting, Pamg and Alanb. I wonder if the swifts have left then - I used to live elsewhere, not far away, and I'd see and hear them gathering in the sky to leave in October, but I don't get them here, what with all these open fields, so wouldn't know. If your swallows have gone, Pamg, maybe the swifts have too... What you're both saying is more significant than what I've noticed - you've seen birds leaving already, I've only seen them arriving to spend winter here. Hmm, better make sure the gas boiler's working properly...

Merlinbabydog - that ennui you're feeling is probably related to your subconscious recognition that the growing season is coming to a close, despite all those lovely blooms still going outside - but it's not quite all over yet, still got September to go.

You mean we are going into early hibernation Bamboo ?

Good move, Bamboo. Check boiler, ASAP (before everyone else does).

I don,t,although I enjoy the preparation,planting up of my borders/hanging baskets with annuals there will come a time in the not too distant future,when I will look and think,that,s it, your all coming out.When their all out and sorted for next year, and everything is tidied up, I then get my "Winter, Spring",collection ready. This consists of 40 plus pots of box,hebes,,some variegated,daffs,dwarf conifers,loads of polyanthus,primulas,(yellow) which I keep to be used every year.these I sink, plant in the border,taking care not to go too deep as there are lots of daffs in. I also have Winter hanging baskets with Honeysuckle box,(Lemon Beauty)hebes,both variegated,Pigface.In my raised beds on the patio again there are daffs,Pigface, crocus,after that I have a rest,enjoy the new,look garden and look forward to an explosion of yellow ,just right to brighten up a dull, day,sometimes less is more,although I seem to have more every year,kerryvw.

I suppose with an autumn chill already noticeable it can make one feel gloomy, but no reason for your garden to give the same feeling. It should be cheering you up.

That's why it's important to have plants like repeat roses which will continue to bloom and give plenty of colour from May to late October. Tall perennials like like Asters are good for early autumn, and short ones like Ceratostigma with its blue flowers do well at this time into autumn, and then their foliage goes red. Likewise some of the Cranesbills such as 'Brookside' continue to produce blue flowers. I also plant tuberous begonias which give a good display right up to the frost. And Dahlias provide plenty of colour now until late autumn.

Then there is the bulb planting season shortly upon us, so I'm looking forward to planning for next Spring

Its cooler here and the nights are drawing in but I refuse to even contemplate going into the doldrums yet, I'm out every day with my handy snippers deadheading and the flowers are doing well even though the wind has tried its hardest to batter them completely, lots of jobs still to do....
The boiler is ok and not due to be checked until February, however we do have a man coming tomorrow to measure up for a new back door, fedup of my draughty kitchen, thats one of my preparations towards the coming season sorted I s'pose , it leads out to the garden so I guess it qualifies, lol....

Derek - just noticed what you've said - surely you had the heatwave up there, didn't you? My sister to the west of Manchester certainly did...

Thankyou everyone for your reflections on this time of year. So glad I'm not the only one to feel sad just now even though there is still plenty of colour in the garden and there are numerous scented winter shrubs to come.

Bamboo, Alan B and Pam G, your observations on migratory birds don't inspire one with enthusiasm for what is to come. I noticed that local blackbirds stopped singing in July this year and I'm sure they usually make sweet music until mid August.

You're right Alan B, I think I'm having a few bad days for various reasons and my garden isn't cheering me up. Perhaps I'm asking too much of the dear little patch of land which has rewarded me so richly this year. For the first time in 15 years, the Geranium johnsons blue has flowered all summer and is still doing so. Also, the G Rozanne I planted this year has really impressed. Hollyhocks have been a mixed success but newly planted Shasta and Ox-eye daisies have given me a delightful surprise with their height and bright white blooms.

It's good to read about what other gardeners are looking forward to doing and how it keeps you happy. Let's hope the weather improves and we can enjoy an Indian summer, a mild winter and an early spring.

By the way, I'm a female pensioner--- still working like thousands of other folk, and feeling that I'm not old enough yet to retire completely. Lucky to enjoy relatively good health and not wanting to be smug 'cos I know that can change overnight.

Hi Bamboo, yes we did have some warm weather for a few weeks, even put the gazebo up, but the nights were never warm enough to sit out in the evening, been to our grandaughters this afternoon, and it was really warm and sunny, but she lives in south manchester, we are about 10 miles north of manchester, just on the pennines, and it must be at least 5deg cooler, and it's where the clouds get stuck as they try to go over the moors, usually when we get a heatwave, it's as it's waving goodbye :-) Derek.

Well, Derek, when it was hot here, I'd have preferred to have been there - 24 degrees C at night is awful for sleeping...

re the early flight of the birds. I wonder if the Swallows
and Swifts have left early because the Red Kites are
killing them ?

Hi Bamboo, I don't think I would fancy that temp either !!!, I think round about 16 to 18 is warm enough to sit out, and to sleep comfortably, Derek.

Don't think so Diane, they came early too because of the early spring, they reared two broods, I did read that the rush here to nest and very leisurely return to Africa