Well, I have no idea what happened to July. 

No. 

Idea.

It apparently passed by in a blur of swimming lessons, family trips, summer school and as much time spent outdoors as possible.

Now August is here and I have much the same feeling. For already the month is half gone and there has not been a free weekend to speak of nor is there a free weekend yet to be found. 

Anywhere.

And oh, have you noticed the days are getting shorter?

There's a bite to the evening wind?

More blustery clouds are gathering on the horizon at sunset?

Only too soon Labor day will be here and then coming quickly on it's heels a flurry of soccer practices and soccer games.

School will start. 

Once again the library and the grocery store will become semi-deserted ghost towns during the morning hours and the whole neighborhood will cease to buzz and hum. 

Until three in the afternoon, anyway.

Soon the Farmer's Market stalls, filled to bursting with sunflowers and tomatoes and rainbow-colored chard, will be piled with pyramids of Apples and baskets of small gourds.

In my own garden, which has been gradually showing signs of the season change, there will be wildflower seeds to collect and Hostas to divide (always, with the Hostas...). Geraniums and roses to prune.

Hopefully the pots on my patio will yield a small crop of beets and carrots. Not to mention a bounty of herbs.

And while I am content with the number of daffodil bulbs we put in last fall I just cannot help myself when it comes to plans for some Alliums and Tulips and maybe a bit more Muscari?

Anyway, here are some photos of what's still coloring these mellow late summer days in our yard.

(We think the below is a volunteer pumpkin vine; growing amongst the ivy and pachysandra under my front window boxes. Perhaps it is a souvenir from last fall when the squirrels devoured ALL of the pumpkins we put out for display...?)