'Regale' trumpet lily and marigolds.
August Garden Chores
'Helena Red' sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
August Introduction - August Plant Combo - August Garden Chores
August Garden Stars - Plant Police - August Lawn Care - Watering Tips
Wilted Raspberries?- Thirsty Plants? - Harvesting - Summer Pruning
It's Hot! - All About Tomatoes - Winter Veggie Gardening - Take Cuttings
It's Powder Mildew Season - Planter TLC - Harvesting Spuds - Shrubs After the Flowers
August Arrangement - Need Help? - For the Tropical Gardener - Plant of the Month: Bear's Breeches
August Garden Stars - Plant Police - August Lawn Care - Watering Tips
Wilted Raspberries?- Thirsty Plants? - Harvesting - Summer Pruning
It's Hot! - All About Tomatoes - Winter Veggie Gardening - Take Cuttings
It's Powder Mildew Season - Planter TLC - Harvesting Spuds - Shrubs After the Flowers
August Arrangement - Need Help? - For the Tropical Gardener - Plant of the Month: Bear's Breeches
'Chantilly' doesn't look like a snapdragon, but it is.
August Intro
The heat is a good reason to chill out at the beach.
Hello Fellow Overheated Gardeners,
The heat is on! This summer has been a record breaking scorcher, and to make matters worse, there's been no measurable rain in well over a month. It’s a double whammy for plants, animals, gardeners and farmers alike. Some plants have not fared well, as I am sure you have noticed in your own garden. It’s sad to see them suffering. I’ve been spot watering by hand more so than I would like and putting out shallow trays of water around the garden for critters, birds and insects. They need water too. I have learned to get out there early in the morning, with garden hose in hand. I prefer the mornings as plants don’t suffer from thirst for the entire day and I don’t get eaten alive by mozzies. I swear the little vampires lie in wait for me. But I digress, it’s so hot and dry that forest fires are raging in British Columbia. Their flames hungrily devour our woodlands and devastate wildlife. It’s no surprise that Metro Vancouver has raised the fire danger rating to extreme. We not just wishing for rain, we are on our hands and knees pleading for a good downpour. With that said, not every plant is suffering; the zucchinis are are ecstatic and the tomatoes are euphoric. Roses are absolutely giddy with glee as they pump out flower after flower. Rose of Sharon, a northern relative of the tropical hibiscus, have never looked so good. If our summers continue to be less temperate and more hot and steamy, we will have to select more heat loving plants in the future. I do admit that all this sunshine and blue skies is rather nice. And because it’s so hot, relaxing in the shade with a nice cold bevvie is a necessity now, not a luxury to avoid heatstroke! That’s my story, and I am sticking to it. Stay cool out there. Cheers, Amanda I’d like to give a special shout out to all the brave souls that fight the fires and those that save the animals and give them sanctuary. I perish to think what the world would be like without such courageous, compassionate and kind people. Thank you for all that you do. 
A white stargazer lily.
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Amanda's Garden Blog
A basket stuffed with hydrangea flowers.
A swallowtail butterfly visits a delphinium flower.
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A ladybug looks for aphids on a lacecap hydrangea.
August Garden Stars
Sneezeweed, Helenium, 30 inches, attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Zones 3-8.
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Peegee hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora', deciduous shrub or small tree, 10’-25’ x 8’-16’, holds blooms from July into winter, sun to part shade, medium moisture. Zones 3 to 8.
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Trumpet creeper, Campsis radicans, a deciduous vine, 25' to 40', orange, yellow or red flowers, sun to part shade, attracts hummingbirds, aggressive, produces suckers. Zones 4 to 9.
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'Purple Emperor' coneflower Echinacea 'Purple Emperor', prefers full sun, grows to 30 inches, a perennial for Zones 3-9.
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Actea simplex, Bugbane, herbaceous perennial, 3' to 4', part shade to shade, bears 1 to 2ft long fragrant flower spikes. Atropurpurea has purple foliage. Zones 3 to 8.
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Scarlet bee balm, Monarda didyma, herbaceous perennial, 2'-4' x 3', sun to light shade, attracts hummingbirds, butterflies. Zones 4 to 9.
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Persian silk tree/mimosa, Albizia julibrissin, decidous tree, 16 to 52', fragrant, sun and dry soil. Zones 6 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
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Garden phlox, Phlox paniculata, herbaceous perennial, fragrant blooms July - Sept, sun to part shade, 2’ to 4’, equal spread, attracts butterflies, hummingbirds. Zones 4 to 8. Click on the pic for more.
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Butterfly bush (Buddleia, Buddleja davidii), deciduous shrub, 4–12’ x 3-8’, June to Sept flowers, attracts butterflies, invasive in many locations. Zones 5 to 9.
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Double pink soapwort, bouncing bet, Saponaria officinalis ‘Flore Pleno’, herbaceous perennial, 1-2’ x 1-1.5’, sun, fragrant blooms July to Sept, drought tolerant, butterflies. Zones 3 to 8
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Fleabane (Inula spp.) grows to 6 ft depending on variety. Full sun, Zones 3-7. Can be invasive depending on the species and location.
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Hardy fuchsia, Fuchsia magellanica, a tender perennial suited to afternoon shade, Zones 6 to 9, grows up to 5 feet.
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Leopard plant, Ligularia dentata, herbaceous perennial, 3-4’ x 2’3, part to full shade, moist soils, summer flowers. Zones 3 to 8.
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Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus, deciduous tree-like shrub growing to 12 ft, Zones 5-8. Best in full sun. Click on the pic for more.
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Purple shamrock, Oxalis triangularis papilionacea, perennial bulb, part shade to shade, 6"-12" x 12"-24", attracts butterflies. Zones 6 to 11.
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August PLANT COMBO
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August Garden ChoresDaily Garden Visits: Checking out the garden every day is a good way to stay on top of things. There’s lots to do from harvesting, weeding, deadheading and watering.
'Bright Eyes' garden phlox might reflower if their spent blooms are snipped off.
The heavy flowers of a peegee hydrangea are effectively supported by an bamboo expanding fence.
A bountiful garlic harvest.
Allow kale, lettuce, chard, radishes and other leafy crops to flower.
Plant Fall/winter veggies
Kale is a winter hardy plant that will survive for 2 years.
Arugula, beets, lettuce, endive, pac and boc choi, radicchio, radish, scallions and spinach are some of the plants suited for planting now for harvesting in the fall and winter. Sow seeds directly in the ground where there are to grow (Direct seed) or visit a local plant nursery and purchase starter plants. For more on Winter Veggie Gardening click here.
The ultra cool 'Johnson Blue' cranesbill geranium seeds are ready to collect.
Harvest Seeds: Collect hollyhock and other mature seeds of your favorite plants, including veggies such as peas and beans. Choose brown, mature seeds and pods, as green, unripe ones will not be viable. Gather them when they are dry to the touch to avoid mould and rotting. Store in paper bags or envelopes in a frost free, dry place. Label with harvest date & name. For more click on
Shallow trays of water are appreciated by creatures great and small.
Birds & Wildlife & Drought: When there is a lack of precipitation, food and water is coveted by all living things. Save the day by adding a birdbath and shallow trays throughout the garden. It’s also a good idea to put some water bowls out for passing doggies when they are on their walks. It’s hot out there.
Hummingbirds: When the temperatures rise, they need lots of nectar to keep them a-hummin’. Check your feeders every other day and clean the feeders before adding more nectar. Take the feeders apart and pour out any remaining nectar. Soak for in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts hot water, or 1 part bleach to 9 parts hot water for 30 minutes. Use bristled brushes to scrub all parts. Rinse thoroughly and allow them to dry before refilling them with nectar: ¼ cup white sugar to 1 cup boiled water. Allow the nectar to cool before adding to the feeder.
Entice butterflies with slices of fruit.
It's Hot!
Leave sunburned leaves on the plant until conditions cool down.
Plants fry in the scorching sun, especially when it is unrelenting over a prolonged period of time. Sunscald appears on exposed leaves that become brown and crispy.
Perpetual wilting is another sign of too much heat. Since you can’t change the weather, the next best thing to do is to shade any suffering plant from the sun. Use an umbrella or a sheet draped over a trellis or screen. Don’t remove the damaged foliage as it will protect the tender foliage underneath 
Water thirsty plants as soon as possible.
Wilting: No matter what time of day it is, if you see a thirsty plant wilting – give it a nice long drink without delay.
Keep the sun off suffering plants by shading them from the sun.
Plant Cover Crops
Cocoa loves the lush crimson clover ground cover.
It’s really not a good idea to leave a garden bed bare - without any plants or other type of covering. Weeds take over, soil erodes away and nutrients are leached. In the summer, soil bakes in the hot sun and during the winter, freezing and thawing expands and contract the soil as temperatures fluctuate. Flooding is also an issue on bare soil with heavy and/or persistent rains.
Cover crops are an effective solution to control all the ills of fallow (unplanted) beds. Pollinators also love the flowers of cowpeas, fava beans, clover, rapeseed, buckwheat and rapeseed. Plant now, once this years’ crops are harvested. Plant from August to late September. The sooner you plant cover crops the better so they are well established before winter. For more on Cover Crops click here. 
Sow cover crops on beds that have been harvested.
It's Powdery Mildew Season
Powdery mildew has infected this squash leaf.
It’s not uncommon for cucumbers, phlox, tuberous begonias, tomatoes and other plants to become infected with powdery mildew this time of year. It appears as a white powder that eventually destroys plants. To learn how to control this disease click on
Planter Care
To reduce watering, place drainage trays under planters to act as reservoirs.
Harvesting Spuds
Harvesting Veggies
Harvest carrots when their 'shoulder's' appear above ground.
Daily visits to the garden are warranted as crops ripen quickly. Harvest in the morning after dew has dissipated, as crops are at their peak of freshness. Pick zucchinis and beans when they are small as are crisper, sweeter and tastier. Green peppers are more flavourful when they mature to yellow, red or orange. To learn more about picking at the peak of perfection and how to harvest click here.
A bountiful harvest.
Take Cuttings
Take cuttings from coleus now as they make great houseplants and you can plant them outside again next year.
Bedding Plant Cuttings: Take cuttings from impatiens, coleus, petunias, geraniums and other annuals. It’s an economical and fun way to brighten up the house during the winter and you’ll some money on next year’s bedding plant purchases. Click on Taking Cuttings to learn how.
Cuttings from Shrubs, Trees & Vines: Take semi-hardwood cuttings from stems with a woody base and soft green tops ex: hydrangea, camellia, Mexican mock orange (Choisya), California lilac (Ceonothus), heather, hebe, mahonia, lavender, viburnum, magnolia, rhododendron, conifers, jasmine, passion flower. If in doubt, experiment and take as many cuttings from as many plants as you like. Learn more click here. Shrubs: After the Flowers
Most shrubs look so much better after their dead flowers have been removed. Removing faded blooms not only tidies up a plant, it redirects energy that would be used for seed production into leaves and stems. It also prevents unwanted seedlings from popping up.
Remove dead flowers by cutting stems to a healthy, robust leaf, a cluster of leaves, a node (bud) or side branch. Angle the cuts to 45 degrees to allow water to run off the severed stems. Please note that it’s too late to cut back spring flowering shrubs as you will be removing next year’s blossoms. For more on pruning click here 
Cut back branches to just above a leaf or side stem.
August Arrangement
A summer's bouquet of feverfew, bellflowers, dayliies and lady's mantle.
'Catherine Woodbury' daylilies are the centerpiece of this summer bouquet. The star shaped flowers are a feverfew cultivar called 'White Stars'. The chartreuse flowers are those of a lady's mantle. Nestled among them are the blue bellflowers and hosta flower spikes. For more detail and for more monthly arrangements click on Monthly Flower Arrangements
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Plant of the month
Bear's Breeches
Acanthus Mollis
The striking flowers of bear's britches.
Flowers are compared to snapdragons. They are lipped and grow vertically along leafless stems.
Acanthus spinosus have spikier foliage compared to the mollis species.
The fascinating flowers of an Acanthus spinosus.
Leaves from this Acanthus mollis are deeply lobed and grow up to 3 feet long.
Give bear's breeches lots of space so they can be admired for the form, flowers and foliage.
Bear's breeches tend to spread under ideal conditions.
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Common Name: bear’s breeches
Botanical Name: Acanthus mollis Form: clump-forming rosette Family: Acanthaceae Genus: Acanthus Species: mollis Plant Type: herbaceous perennial with tuberous roots Mature Size: 3 to 5 feet x 2 to 3 feet Origin: Mediterranean Hardiness Zone: 7 to 10 Foliage: emerge from a rosette, dark green, glossy, deeply lobed, up to 36” long and 12” wide Flowers: maroon-purplish and white 2-lipped, hooded flowers up to 2” long are surrounded by spiny bracts, borne in vertical rows on erect leafless stems up to 5ft tall in summer Fruit: one or two brown seeds in a pointed capsule Exposure: sun to partial shade, avoid hot summer afternoon sun Soil: soil tolerant, dislikes wet soil Uses: accent, foundation plant, specimen, formal gardens, woodland edges Propagation: root division, seeds Pruning: remove flower stalks after flowering Problems: invasive where conditions are favorable Comments: Carl Linneus, the noted botanist and ‘Father of Taxonomy’, first described this historical plant in his book Species Plantarum in 1753. The large, deep green, attractively ornate foliage were the inspiration for Greco-Roman and Classical architecture. This ‘Corinthian’ design was carved into columns, and has been used throughout the ages denoting a classical elegance that is still revered today. Bear’s breeches, Acanthus mollis, makes a bold but elegant and classical statement that never goes unnoticed. Even without its towering snapdragon-like flower spikes, their large 3 foot leaves are very attractive and stand out even when mixed with other greenery. In warm climates, the foliage will stay evergreen, but will go dormant when temperatures dip to below freezing. Although they are soil tolerant, soggy soils promote rot. Lack of flowers are caused by too much shade or from late spring frosts. To protect the crowns and potential blooms, don’t remove their foliage in fall, instead cut them off in spring as new growth emerges. Keep plants away from hot afternoon sun as this may cause wilting. They will also go dormant in summer if they are not watered. Bear’s breeches spread via underground tubers and seeds. This is why it is important to remove the spent flower spikes before they go to seed. Tubers will spread in warm climates and when grown in loose soils. In areas where they are too aggressive, install an 8 inch barrier to confine their roots. This plant is invasive in parts of California, Australia and New Zealand. Other Cultivars and Species: Acanthus mollis ‘Latifolius’ are hardier, but doesn’t flower as freely as the species and have larger foliage. Zones 7 to 10, 2-2.5′ x 2-3′. Acanthus spinosus is an alternate species know for leaves with spines along the edges (margins). Zones 5 to 9, 3’ - 4’ x 2’ - 3’. Acanthus balacanicus, Balcanicus Bear's Breeches, flowers profusely, with white or pale pink flowers, with deep lobes spaced far apart. Zones 7 to 10, 2’ - 4’ x 2’-4’. 
A Corinthian column at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles, denotes the ornateness of the Acanthus.
The lipped flowers are surrounded by spiny bracts.
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for the tropical Gardener
While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here.
THE GARDEN WEBSITE INDEX
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Container Growing 101Monthly Flower Arrangements
Growing Roses Introduction Mulching & Types Introduction |
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