If like me, you’re spending massive quantities of time in your Gardens, looking at your Gardens, and wondering what, if anything, your Garden may be missing, or what else you can cram in there…consider How to get the look of Piet Oudolf's naturalistic gardens which really is about planting a Garden with a “full seasonal spectrum” and as we get closer to Fall, there may be some great plants and ideas in there you haven’t considered.

But also, if like me, you’re wondering how much more time you can spend with a watering hose over plants that require ample watering just to survive, maybe it’s time to consider more plantings that can handle periods of drought, such as A deep dive into the climate-resilient garden that won Robert Myers a gold medal at Chelse a Flower Show and other issues that plague Gardeners, such as resilience, adaptability, longevity, and disease resistance.

I’ve been sharing some of what I saw and was inspired by at Chelsea Flower Show, and it’s still interesting to see what take-aways others had from their experience. If you’re living vicariously from those that attended, never fear! There are plenty of great articles, photos and more that can transport you into the mindset, such as Great ides to steal for your Garden from the Chelsea Flower Show and it’s never too late, or too early, to think about what you want to do in your own Gardens.

Inspiration comes in many forms, but incorporating water into your Gardens can instantly change the sensory experience of being in a space, and there are both simple and grand ways to transform your garden with a water bowl, pond or rill, with inspirational real-life design ideas and safety tips. Think about how you want water to be used in your own Garden, and consider the cooling and calming effects it can have, for both you, and the wildlife.

I’ve really been looking at the plants in all our spaces to see how they are holding up in this heat. Some of them are more established, and have been through this, others it’s their first summer, and I really want plants that will hold up to intense heat, low to moderate watering, and can handle wind and wet winters. That’s a big order, but 21 brilliant ‘bombproof’ plants: the impossible-to-kill, fuss-free, low-maintenance performers that the experts rely on is a great place to start if you need help in this area. The other thing is, visit local Gardens and notice what plants are doing really well, talk to the Gardeners and experts in that space (number one question I get asked is “what plant is this” and I’m guessing it’s because it looks great or interesting at that point in time, but never do I hear “what plant is so hard working in your garden you can’t live without it” or “what is sailing through your summers out here with ease”) and I think it’s the hard-working plants that handle environmental stressors that will always look the best, vs. the ones I have to hand-hold and baby along.

To that end, always placing a plant in the proper location for it’s optimal needs, not only helps a plant to survive, but thrive, and that’s a win for both the plant and the Gardener. Start by reading labels on plant tags, they’re there for a reason, and knowing the difference between Part Sun or Part Shade for Plants. Unless you’re in a position to keep buying plants until you figure it out, and most of us don’t want to do that, also knowing dry shade vs. moist or wet shade, and same for sunny spots, is also critical. Plants have very specific needs and can’t pick up their roots on their own and move to a better house. So help them out!

What is icky to some, is not to others, so I share this next with a bit of tongue in cheek, as I think it’s a little funny to see what sets people off. In 14 things in your garden that are giving people the ick, take this with a dose of humor, for you may love, or not, some of the things mention. I will confess that a few things are total off limits to me (fake and plastic plants will never be in my Garden), you do you. We are all different, and we all get to do what we love in our own spaces.

August is busy, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy your Gardens, whether curling up to dig into your favorite mystery book, a new magazine, or just to daydream. Your Garden should be a place you both enjoy working in, and relaxing in, and here are some great tips for how to turn your garden into a peaceful sanctuary. I should take my own advice, but we do eat dinner out in the Garden every night, before I’m grabbing my snips and doing one more round of pruning, cutting and working before I call it a night.

It’s the time of year, if you’re done deadheading (anyone just done with deadheading yet?) to leave roses for hips, those beautiful fruiting bodies (berries, actually) that some Roses leave behind as gifts to the Garden, for the birds, and to carry us through into winter. They are stunning, and can really add beauty when there’s not much else to look at. To that end, consider these top 10 roses for beautiful rosehips during autumn and winter for a graceful transition into the season of rest.

Lastly, while this isn’t a substitute for TJ’s workshop with us, you can certainly get a glimpse of his teaching in this one-on-one that was shared on YouTube on flower arranging using Spring flowers. I think how florists handle product changes depending on the season, as I look at how his spring arrangements tend to be a bit more soft feeling, echoing the sentiments of the season gently dancing into life, whereas summer is more exuberant, like a party in a vase. I can’t say it enough times: learning hands-on with an expert is always the real McCoy, and a kajillion times better than any video, book or manual will ever be. As someone who taught a very physical sport for many years, I stand strong on both feet on this sentiment.