GBBD: August 2012

June, July, now August...where did the summer go? Vacations are over, kids are back in school, its stinking hot and the garden is full of weeds. By the time August rolls around the garden has had three months of 90+ degree weather beating down on it day in and day out and it is looking rather tired.

But it is not all doom and gloom. This August has been most memorable because we've received almost 7" of rainfall! That is not a typo. Seven inches! And, despite this significant amount of water we are still in severe drought conditions.

So lets look on the bright side, it is Garden Blogger's Bloom Day and time to celebrate some late summer blooms. Be sure to hop, skip and jump over to May Dreams Gardens to participate in the blooming party.

The most prolific bloomers in my garden today are the mushrooms! The heavy rain and warm temperatures created the perfect conditions for mushrooms to sprout.


They are popping up all over the garden.
 

I find them so fascinating. They come in so many shapes and sizes and often look like something from a Sci-Fi movie. 


This time of year, we tend to spend a little less time working in the garden because it just gets too darn hot. But there is still lots of activity going on. These are ideal conditions for butterflies and there is lots of fluttering going on.

The butterflies play nice sharing blooms...

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails on Buddleia

patiently wait their turn...

Skippers on Zinnia

And gracefully share with the competition...

Tropical Checkered Skipper and bee on Gaillardia

they even color coordinate for photo ops.

Gulf Fritillary on Lantana

The Encore azaleas are putting out their second round of blooms. Normally we see these blooms in early fall but whose complaining? 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Encore azalea

The Sedum buds are a favorite place for the tiny anoles to hide out.

Autumn Fire Sedum with anole

The Beautyberry bushes are fruiting. I associate them with fall but mine always appear in August. It is a sign that the next season will be unfolding soon.


Only 38 days until the official start to fall. Are you counting down?

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