Lost in Transition

August has been feeling more like September. The air has been a little crisp, the night has had a chill, mornings have been cooler. I can already see the subtle change in leaves on my daily commute. Summer is definitely making its graceful exit and welcoming in fall. While many of my summer blooms have faded, a walk around my gardens revealed a variety of brand-new buds, and those flowers ready for round two.

Just because the sun is setting on summer doesn't mean your gardens are ready to fade. There's more to come in the next season. Enjoy the transition. 

What's blooming in your garden right now?

Autumn Joy Seedum "thisclose" to opening.

By clipping back the spent flowers, I revealed my yarrow's next generation of blooms.

By now, you know of my love for Pentas, they just keep on going and going... Next year, run, don't walk to get Pentas for your containers. I bet they look fabulous in the ground as well.

I'm not sure what type of Black-Eyed Susan this is, but, it's a little more slender, a little less invasive than some other varieties I've had, and it is still blooming strong right now.

I was especially surprised to see this flowering shrub rebloom. I'm pretty sure it has grown about 3-4 feet this summer. The top is all covered in new growth and fresh blooms.

Hi, I'm a Mess

Here's where I start putting myself out there. I'm not a garden master mind. I wish I was.
I have "that spot" in my yard. The one area that is constantly out of control. The one area I swear every year I'm going to tame like the wild beast it is.

It's my front yard. Not the front of my house, rather the very edge of the yard that slopes into the road. My neighbors across the street have to stare at this mess every day, and sometimes I think they shame me when I walk out to get the mail. Lucky for me, I don't have to look at it, but I know it's there.

It didn't used to be this bad. In fact, at one point, we planted masses of perennials thinking that they would just fill in and take over. If you look closely you might be able to see one, yes one, black-eye Susan that remains. We were so naive.

This is a project that I just can't handle on my own. It might be time to admit defeat and call in professional help. But, first I'd like to you know what you think. What would you do if this was your mess? Share your thoughts. The person with the best idea gets to come over and help me!

Social Media Butterfly

You probably need another social media site to join like a hole in the head.
But, how can you resist gardening-specific social networking? Check out these sites I originally started following on Twitter:

Dig the Dirt

Your Garden Show

Both are free and are a great way to catalog ideas, share your gardens, access tools/resources and peruse how-to's. Most of all, sites like these use the experiences of others to illustrate the importance of gardening, sustainable practices and the impact of building communities on and offline.

I encourage you to be social and start building your gardening community. Then, you can share it on Facebook, tweet it on Twitter, +1 on Google+, pin it on Pinterest...
(Wait, I thought we were supposed to be spending more time outside?)
I don't quite understand it all either, but I'm learning!

P.S. Leaf Magazine, a new digital magazine focused on outdoor design, launches this fall. Click to get a free subscription!

The August To-Do List

It's almost mid-August. Your gardens are tired of working for you all summer. You're probably tired, too. You can feel the season slowly changing ... The air smells a little different ... The days are oh-so-gradually getting shorter again ... Did you just see a leaf fall on the ground?

Hey!
Snap out of it!

Don't be fooled by back-to-school ridiculousness and promises of a new fall wardrobe. (As enticing as those new suede boots might be, they'll still be there in October, I promise.)

Summer is still here, and my calendar says it will stay here until September 23.
If you think your work is done, you're sorely mistaken.
So, grab your shovel and your bypass pruners because your to-do list just got a little longer.

From mulching to compost, bulbs to saving seeds, deadheading to weeding, there's still plenty to do this year and in preparation for next spring. There's even time to plant a late harvest garden. Take it from the experts, About.com and Better Homes and Gardens have compiled some great August tips to keep your garden going through September and beyond.

I think I'm even crazy enough to try a fall container garden this year...yeah, even after I got on my soapbox about containers.

Pretty Little Aprons For Us Dirty Gals

Aprons have been coming back in a big way (not that they ever really left!)

They're perfect for this time of year, whether you're harvesting vegetables or need a tool carry-all in your cutting garden. They're not just for in the kitchen, you know!

The DIY crowd has been having a field day--check out some great how-to sites below to create your own. Or, if you're lucky enough, maybe a super crafty friend will whip up one for you as a wedding present. (Thanks, Jen!)

But, with aprons as cute as these, who'd want to get them dirty? 

Left: Recycled denim "Easy Peasy Gardening Apron" by Wienerdog Tricks, check out the how-to on her blog as well as other cool sewing projects (if you're so inclined).
Top Right: Martha Stewart's up-cycled gardening apron, make old new again with these easy instructions.
Bottom Right: The ultimate step-by-step DIY apron by Design*Sponge.

Left: Not a gardening apron, but fun anyway, I like the cheat-sheet approach of Perpetual Kid's upside-down apron, as featured on FreshHome.
Top Right: My wedding present apron made by my friend Jen! Also came with matching potholders. Cute, right?
Bottom Right: Ruffled goodness, the Seed Apron by Vermont Apron Company, (yes, they are made in Vermont).

The Year of the Zinnia

Apparently 2011 is the year of the Rabbit, Google+ and the Zinnia!

Each year, the professional horticulture industry comes together to showcase one flower (and one vegetable!) of the year, based on popularity, ease, adaptability, versatility and diversity. This year, it's the Zinnia, which perfectly fits all of the defined categories and more. So, what's to love?

• Great in borders, beds, containers, cutting gardens, you name it. 
• Known as the "cut and come again" flower. Some varieties are prolific enough to be a ground cover.  
• Heights vary from 8 inches up to 4 feet, giving you options that are short, tall and everything in between.
• Easy to sow from seed.
• Sun loving, fast growing and super low maintenance, just the way I like 'em!
• Like color? Available in yellow, orange, cherry, pink, purple, scarlet, white, as well as fashionable chartreuse (my personal fave).
• Practically pest free.

There really isn't anything not to love about Zinnias. Ironically, this is the first year that I haven't used Zinnias in my gardens. Regrets!

Random fact: When the Spanish first saw the Zinnia species in Mexico, they thought the flower was so unattractive they named it mal de ojos or "sickness of the eye!" 

For more horticulture history, recommendations and how to grow from seed, check out the Year of the Zinnia page on the National Gardening Association site. (P.S. For all of you vegetable gardeners, 2011 is also the Year of the Tomato, chosen by the NGA.)

Zinnia Giant Double Mix-Pink

 Zinnia Giant Double Mix-Pink, close up so you can see "the eye!"

Zinnia Profusion 5 Color Mix, I've used these in containers and beds before, they spread like crazy and keep until hard fall frost (and then some!)

Zinnia Queen Lime, I totally have a thing for green flowers right now.

All content and photos provided by the National Garden Bureau via the National Gardening Association.