At The Gate

Read by Matilda Longbottom

August settles into the garden like an old friend who no longer feels the need to knock. By now, we know each other well. I know which tomato plants need an extra stake, which cucumber vine is hiding fruit just out of sight, and exactly where the chipmunk thinks he’s getting away with nibbling my beans. The garden, in turn, seems to know me, greeting me each morning with another handful of surprises—a sunflower that’s somehow taller than yesterday, a basket waiting to be filled with tomatoes, or a squash that went from “I’ll pick that tomorrow” to “How did that get so big?” overnight. It’s a month that asks us to slow down just enough to notice the abundance all around us, laugh at the little mishaps, and remember that after months of digging, planting, watering, and weeding, this is the season when the garden finally says, “Here—you’ve earned this.”

Pat Stone shares with us Truth in Gardening. What is your truth? As for me, let’s just say my green thumb is still a work in progress—as is my garden. Mike McGrath is busy wondering, What’s That Smell? I’ve investigated a few mysterious odors in my day, but thankfully none of them resulted in discovering a dead mole! Amanda MacArthur has us Thinking Ahead as we begin planning our late-summer and fall gardens. Have you started planning yours?

We’re celebrating some wonderful August produce this month. Bill Dugan shares surprising facts about Cool, Crisp, and Surprisingly Powerful cucumbers. We’re also taking a closer look at watermelons, mums, and the holiday herb garden you should be planting now. Join us as we explore plants that brighten your days and tantalize your taste buds.

Larry Johnson has us Jamming in the Garden. I can certainly see how a really good compost pile might inspire someone to sing! Rosie the Skunk by Leah Hoenen has me wondering whether a skunk in the garden is a blessing or a curse. I’ll let you decide. And The Gardener’s August by Karel Čapek reminds us just how quickly things can get out of hand if we neglect the garden during this busy month. I know I’ve been guilty of leaving mine unattended for a few days, and every single time I promise myself it will never happen again.

Join us as we explore the Blossoms and Blunders Story Collection, our carefully curated bouquet of the best-of-the-worst gardening humor. These tales were handpicked from decades of submissions to GreenPrints, and we’ve plucked the 31 funniest blooms just for you. As fellow gardeners, I’m sure you’ll recognize yourself in more than a few of these stories. They’ll remind you that your gardening blunders are all part of a much larger tapestry of hilarity involving humans, plants, and tools.

Be sure to enjoy our recipe collection, Summer Refreshers. Have you ever wondered what to do with all the extra fruit and herbs from your Summer garden? We have plenty of refreshing ideas to help you put them to delicious use. If you’re like me and enjoy a good mocktail, this collection is for you. And if you’d rather turn one into an unforgettable grown-up beverage, simply add your favorite spirit.

August has a funny way of reminding us that gardens, like Summers, are meant to be enjoyed while they last. Before long, we’ll be talking about pumpkins, frost dates, and where we stored the garlic for planting. But not quite yet. For now, there are still tomatoes warm from the vine, hummingbirds making their daily rounds, lazy evenings spent pulling a few weeds “while I’m out here,” and baskets that somehow fill themselves when we only meant to pick a handful. So let’s savor these golden days, celebrate every harvest—big or small—and soak up every joyful moment the garden has to offer. After all, August doesn’t just grow vegetables. It grows memories we’ll be smiling about long after the last tomato has been picked.