August Newsletter
“Sea-blue of gentian,
Blackberries ebony stain,
Yellow of goldenrod,
Tree fringes wavering along the road
Under the hill,
These make up an August afternoon”
The July heat has finally spurred the annual flowers into abundance. We had a slow start this year with cooler temperatures and variable rains, but the plants seem to be making up for lost time. Their performance has become a recurring issue with periods of cold, rainy weather followed by hot and dry spells. We are working hard to adapt to these fluctuations.
The crews are also battling numerous pests this season, particularly slugs and Japanese beetles. They have wreaked havoc on various annuals, like these dahlias (left). We treat these plants with neem or horticultural oil, which are highly effective deterrents. Horticultural oil can be toxic to beneficial insects, so we avoid spraying near any blooms.
In good news, we’ve seen an abundance of bees this year and have spotted numerous hummingbird moths! Rachel, our butterfly expert crew leader, has been hatching monarchs at home to ensure their safe emergence from their cocoons.
Speaking of annuals: we are prepping our fall annuals orders in the coming weeks, so please let us know if you have any special requests!
Our general garden care tasks continue this month and we are avoiding planting until September. We will also be conditioning gardens with fertilizers and amendments and tackling some light pruning. Let us know if you have any questions!
-The Garden Life Team
