THINGS TO DO IN THE GARDEN

There is always something to do in the garden at this time of year and no better time to enjoy the fruits of your labours in this most beautiful season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Spend as much time as you can outside in the fresh air and sunshine to allow your body to stock up on vitamin D, and enjoy pottering in the garden to your heart's content.

Picking Flowers -   harvest flowers a little and often as flowers come into full bloom

Drying Flowers  - pick bunches of flowers and herbs to dry - the best ones include Lavender, Anise Hyssop, Calendula, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Mint, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme

Plant Trimming - trim back your lavender once it has finished flowering, to stop it growing too woody and leggy

Plant Feeding  - add natural garden compost or manure which is especially good for bedding down roses

Gathering Seeds - collect seed pods for plants you want to reseed, and those that you don’t want to reseed themselves

Plant Watering - watering is key at this time of year so keep on top of this by watering plants every day. The best times are in the morning or late afternoon-evening to prevent the heat evaporating all the water before it reaches the plant roots.

Fruit Picking - make the most of soft fruits and berries by harvesting them daily, keep an eye on harder fruits such as apples, pears and plums so that they can be plucked at their most perfect time of ripeness.

Drying Flowers in Bunches

One of the best and most simple ways to dry bunches of flowers and herbs to retain their colour, essential oil and flavour is natural air drying.

This is very easy to do and does not require any special equipment - just follow these steps:

• Pick bunches of flowers and/or herbs when they are coming into flower and are at their most potent.
• Shake to remove any creatures that might be lurking in the foliage and wash very gently to remove any dirt.
• Give them a spin in a salad spinner or pat them gently with a towel to dry.
• Remove lower leaves from the stems to create a couple of inches of bare stem at the bottom of each sprig.
• Gather into bunches and tie securely with string or natural garden twine around the bare stems.
• Hang upsidedown from a high shelf or washing line or place on a drying rack where they can be kept cool, dry and dark and left to dry naturally.
• Make sure each sprig is completely dry before storing or used to decorate/freshen your home.

Blackberry Picking

August is the ideal time to forage for Blackberries which can be frozen for the Winter, preserved in jams and jellies, or eaten straight away on their own, in a mixed fruit salad or as part of sweet pies, iden creams and desserts.

Balckberries are super-nutritious as they are packed with vitamins C, E, A and K, together with minerals (magnesium, potassium and manganese) and antioxidants. The anthocyanins in Blackberries create their dark colour and their fibre content promotes healthy digestion, assimilation and bowel regularity which makes them a great part of any healthy diet.

When foraging for Blackberries, watch out for the plentiful thorns and choose fruits that have a deep, rich colour, and fall easily off the stem. While the Bramble shrub can be a bit aggressive, don't forget that they are a vital resource for wildlife and the natural ecosystem. The berries provide a delicious treat for birds, animals and wildlife during the Autumn months. Pretty pink and white flowers in early Spring provide nectar for butterflies and other pollinators. The rough and tangled spiky stems provide perfect protection for hedgehogs and dormice.

Blackberries are delicious treats – for people and wildlife - so when you go Blackberry picking, choose areas of abundance and remember to leave some for the birds, animals and wildlife that depend on them.

THINGS TO DO IN NATURE IN AUGUST

Watching Dolphins (Devon & Cornwall)

Common Dolphins are a familiar site along the coastline of Cornwall and with 400 miles of unspoilt coastline, it’s the best place to experience a myriad of marine life. It's always magical to watch the acrobatic displays of Dolphins, known as bow-riding which is a delight to see.

These highly social animals swim together in pods and have been known to form superpods of thousands. The best time to see them is between April and September and you can find out the best spots in Cornwall to spot Dolphins on the Cornwall Wildlife Trust website.

You can also find Common Dolphins swimming the seas along the Devon Coast. These beautiful creatures are streamlined and shaped a bit like a torpedo. They are particularly playful and generally travel around in groups of fifty to a hundred. They can be seen all year in the seas around Devon as imagined in a poem I wrote about The Dolphins to celebrate their joyful presence so close to our hearts and our shores.

I hope you enjoy making the most of Nature through August for your good health, happiness and wellbeing, and look forward to seeing you here for the next Almanac on 1 September 2025.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf

Buy a book!

Books with seasonal information presented for each month of the year are available from the Spiral Leaf bookshop using the links below.

The Almanac - A Seasonal Guide to 2025 by Lia Leendertz

The Leaping Hare Nature Almanac by Raluca Spatacean

The Forager's Calendar: A Seasonal Guide to Nature’s Wild Harvests by John Wright

Wild Hares and Hummingbirds by Stephen Moss

The Running Hare by John Lewis-Stempel

The Leaping Hare by George Ewart Evans and David Thomson

Meadowland - The Private Life of an English Field by John Lewis-Stempel

Spiral Leaf may earn a small commission on books sold using the above links in support of independent book sellers and bookshops at no extra cost to you!