Welcome August (Almanac 2025)
Dates and inspiration for things to see and do in Nature in August
WELCOME AUGUST
At the beginning of August, Nature continues to flourish with Lammas Day celebrated on the first of the month when cattle are traditionally returned to the fields to graze after the hay harvest.
You may noticed that many of the Swifts have flown back to the sunny climes of sub-Sahara Africe after their brief stay in the British Isles to raise their young. Swifts leave before the Swallows who are busily collecting food for their second brood.
Swallows produce two or three clutches of up to four eggs every season and you can see them flying in and out of their beautifully made cup-like nests secured on the sheltered wooden ledges, beams and joists of traditional style houses, thatched cottages, sheds and outbuildings. Each nest is exquisitely constructed from mud interwoven with grasses that are reused season after season.
Now is the time to relax and watch butterflies dance as the breeze blows Thistledown seeds up into the air on the slightest breeze. They have the same feathery appearance as Dandelion seeds, exploding naturally from their bright purple flowers as grasshoppers, crickets and other tiny creatures forage for food in the long grass beneath, and bees hum in the warmth of the late afternoon Sun.
August is abundant with ripened fruits and berries where swarms of tiny fruit flies can be found making the most of the sweet harvest. It's a great time for gathering creamy white Elderflowers as Hawthorn and Blackthorn bushes become weighed down with inky-black berries and sloes. Meanwhile, at the end of the month, Blackberries are gathered from field edges and hedgerows for preserving or adding to sweet desserts, pies, ice creams, fruit salads and pastries.
A poem - Welcome August - speaks of strength and protection under the influence of Leo and the Lion's Gate on the 8th of the month. This is the Pagan season of Lughnasadh, dedicated to the gathering of corn, the harvesting of straw for thatching, the clearing of orchards, the storing of wood, nuts and berries, and mead-making in preparation for the colder months ahead.
This month's Almanac contains key dates and seasonal events to note for the month so that you can stay in sync with Nature's natural cycles with suggestions for ways to benefit from the natural world around you.
Moon Phases
- Saturday 9 August - FULL STURGEON MOON in Aquarius
- Saturday 23 August - NEW HARVEST MOON in Virgo
Sunrise and sunset (Devon, British Isles)
- Friday 1 August - Sunrise (5.41am) - Sunset (8.58m)
- Sunday 31 August - Sunrise (6.26am) - Sunset (8.00pm)
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!
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