“August is one of the hottest months of the northern year…’twixt the flower and the fruit.” Hal Borland, Naturalist and Author

It has been a warm summer, with August scheduled to bring on the heat. The hot days of this month showcase my seasonal favorite flowers.

Also hailing from South Africa, a terrific terrace choice is the firecracker flower Crocosmia. Called falling stars or coppertips, the orange and yellow trumpet-shaped flowers open in succession from the bottom up with slender, strap-shaped foliage like gladiolus. I dig and divide the corms every three years because when they get too crowded, blooms are sparse. Since they are also not a desired deer dinner, I will add corms to my hillside where the herds congregate. Plant in full sun in humus-rich, well-drained soil for the best results and enjoy watching the pollinators flock to the flowers. Clay soil will need to be amended.

Sword lilies, part of the iris family, are known best as gladiolus. Corms are planted with the pointy side facing up in moderately fertile soil in areas that receive six to eight hours of sunlight. Since they grow to four or five feet with blooms of three to five inches across, gladioli complement shorter plants when planted at the back of a bed. These tall plants often need staking to stay upright. Colors include purple, pink, red, orange, lime green, white, and even variegated varieties. South Africa again deserves a shout-out for originating these glorious bloomers. 

The two trees that rock my August days and nights are magnolias and crape myrtles. The magnolia tree is one of the oldest flowering plants in history, with over two hundred species. I fell in love with Magnolia Grandiflora years ago when I attended an interior design conference in the deep South. Magnolia Grandiflora grows to be a tall tree, with a height of sixty to eighty feet, and a canopy of shiny, leathery leaves with creamy white flowers that span a foot in diameter. I started with a sapling in a gallon pot, and now that tree supports me swinging in my hammock, watching the squirrels scampering to the Japanese maples and the bees buzzing in the magnolia flowers! The falling leaves of mature trees are messy, requiring consistent raking, so don’t plant your tree near a pond or patio.

When it comes to crape myrtles, this low-maintenance, high-value blooming tree ranks as my number one pick for summer color. Although these trees are native to eastern Asia, they are referred to as the “lilac of the South,” with dramatic flower colors of watermelon, pink, lavender, and white. This dynamite tree requires full sun and naturally grows with multiple trunks. Pruning in late winter is optional for Lagerstroemia, depending on how you want the tree or bush to flourish. Birds and pollinators flock to the trees. I planted watermelon crape myrtles to flank my driveway and positioned two as flamboyant focal points on my patio. The lavender bush crape myrtles in my flower beds are heavily pruned after blooming to keep them small.

Of course, there are many other beloved bloomers in my summer garden, including my radiant roses, but the Naked Ladies, Falling Stars, Gladioli, Flamingo Flower, Magnolia, and Crape Myrtle are August’s hot, hot, hot picks!

Cynthia Brian’s Goddess Gardener Guide for August

PROTECT your edibles and all garden plants from our dear deer by erecting a fence. Sadly, deer repellents are only mildly effective, while plants that are highly scented or fuzzy won’t keep the stags at bay.

DEADHEAD your flowers and roses to encourage additional flowering.

HARVEST summer vegetables and fruits. Asian pears, tangerines, tomatoes, squash, peppers, cucumbers, and blackberries are a few of the delicious edibles ready to eat.

MULCH is a sunscreen for roots. Add three inches of mulch to retain moisture, stabilize soil, cool the roots, and suppress weeds.

POUR boiling water on weeds on pathways and driveway cracks to kill hard-to-remove weeds, or spray with 30% white vinegar. I use both!

DUMP standing water to prevent the mosquito larvae from hatching. According to the CDC, the mosquito is considered the deadliest creature in the world, killing a million or more people each year by spreading malaria, dengue, Zika, and yellow fever. And yes, these diseases are now spread by California mosquitoes.

THREATS of tick bites are at a nine-year high, bearing numerous illnesses. Apply bug spray containing DEET, wear long sleeves, and check yourself and your pets after gardening, hiking, or being outdoors.

TURN off your main water valve when going on vacation in case you get a broken pipe.

SAVE seeds from your favorite perennials, including zinnia, marigold, and echinacea.

ORDER spring-blooming bulbs that you’ll plant in fall from your favorite catalogs or nurseries. Suggestions include tulips, narcissi, hyacinth, scilla, anemone, muscari, and Dutch iris.

INSPECT your residence and yard for wildfire prevention. Wildfire resilience begins with neighbors working together. Make sure your GO BAG is ready to roll in the case of evacuation.

WANT to peek into backyard gardens while you are traveling? Visit https://www.gardenconservancy.org/garden-directory/open-days to find gardens that are open to visitors. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for non-members.

WATER deeply in the early morning or evening to avoid evaporation.

Read Digging Deep with Goddess Gardener, Cynthia Brian, in the Lamorinda Weekly.

Happy Gardening! Happy Growing! Stay cool in the hot August days and nights!

For more seasonal gardening tips and inspiration, grab a copy of Growing with the Goddess Gardener at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in Napa County vineyards, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3.

Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at https://www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her best-selling children’s series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures, is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com

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Read Lamorinda Weekly: https://lamorindaweekly.com/articles/2026/summer-seasonings-2/

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