August is not my favorite month, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned before….like every year at this time. And this particular August was no exception especially since I ruined the first two weeks of it with a bad sunburn (see Beach Baby blog), which limited my outings to those allowing bare feet. Thank God for books and Blue Jays games! Plus we’ve had a lot of rainy or overcast days, and now a hint of cooler weather, which along with the earlier sunsets signals that fall is on the way.
The garden has dried up, the tomatoes were a bust, the Roma’s small, the Beefsteak half rotten, and the lettuce long wilted. The only interesting thing was these lemon cucumbers, and while they look like a lemon, they taste like a regular old cucumber.
I got the seeds from the library’s Seed Catalogue program – designed to inspire gardening. Libraries are full of interesting things these days other than books. They are always trying new programs – you can rent a fishing rod, a musical instrument, get a day pass to provincial parks etc. You could flip through a binder of seeds, regular and heirloom, and pick out the ones you wanted to try. I had never heard of lemon cucumbers – the package only had 5 seeds in it so I was surprised it was so prolific (and no you don’t have to return them at the end of the season!).
When my feet had recovered enough that I could comfortably wear running shoes again, I resumed my walking circuit around the neighbourhood, and was surprised to find these peaches in someone’s front yard. I don’t remember ever noticing the trees before, but how could you miss this bumper crop!
I don’t know these neighbours, so I knocked on their door and asked how old the trees were. The woman was a gardener and proudly gave me a tour of her garden. The trees are only 3 years old, but after finding out their detailed routine which involved a lot of spraying, fertilizing and TLC I doubt I’ll be buying a peach tree, despite how lovely it would be to go outside and pick a peach in your own yard. I’ll leave the peaches to the Niagara region.
Instead I went to the Saturday farmer’s market…..
and bought 3 baskets of Red Haven seconds for making jam.
Three hours of peeling, (I’m really missing my mom on the second anniversary of her death as she was my peach peeler), equals two batches (12 Jars) of jam. It’s really more of a fruit puree, as I use the low sugar canning stuff. Good for adding to yoghurt or on toast in the middle of winter when you are craving fresh fruit.
I also bought some glads at the market – my favorite fall flower, although there were bunches of zinnias too.
I’ve given up on my flowers…
…although the impatiens are still hanging in there. My hydrangeas did not flower at all this year, but nobody else’s did so we must have had a spring frost at the wrong time.
The dipladenia always do well as they love the heat and are drought resistant.
Fall will be here before we know it.
So enjoy these last few days of August…..
before summer sails away….until next year.
thehomeplaceweb 
So sorry that the effects of bad sunburn lasted a while. I’ve not heard of a lemon cucumber before! Those zinnias look pretty indeed 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thanks Anne! Yes, I’ve never had a sunburn last so long and peel so late….strange indeed. I expected the lemon cucumber to taste different, but it did not.
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It’s amazing how weather varies from region to region. In my area, it is nearing the end of August and everything is as green as it was the beginning of June! My grass has continued demanding its weekly cut – something really unusual for the Midwestern US.
Like you, I prefer Fall. And those peach preserves look delicious!!
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Thanks JP. The grass looks autumny (not sure that’s a word but I’ll make it one), kind of brown and dried up in spogts. We’ve had rain but not a good soaking all day rain to make things green again. It’s been a strange summer, not even all that hot, other than a few weeks in July, but I’m looking forward to fall.
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I had peach trees at the old house for a few years. Critters ate the peaches. Deer got the low ones and tree climbing groundhogs got the tall ones. I was lucky if I got a half dozen but there is nothing like eating a peach ripened on the tree. Your impatiens are lovely. Here rabbits nibble on them so I don’t plant.
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I did not know groundhogs climbed trees, but then I’ve never seen one. I’m sure they both appreciated the dessert!
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I’m sure they did. The peaches were Red Haven and very sweet.
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The puree looks delicious! Summer in a jar.
I had a super dwarf tree at my last house and I did absolutely nothing to care for it. Every year, I got a bounty of the best tasting peaches ever for no work, enough to make a big batch of jam. Sadly, the last year we were there, it did not survive a particularly cold winter. No idea what the name of it was, but the peaches were quite small and the tree itself was not even six-feet.
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I like that – summer in a jar! My neighbour said they were sweet and they were certainly a good size for the tree only being 3 years old. But the care routine, with spraying starting in late winter etc. I’m more the plunk it in the ground and hope it lives kind of gardener. My box of seconds only cost me $15 so I consider that a bargain. I like to buy the overripe freestone ones for canning, as they need less sugar.
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I’m with you! I also like to take the overripe ones that can be had by the peck this time of year, wash, twist and remove the pit, and grind the whole thing up in the blender. Freeze in small containers (or do the ice cube method) and use in smoothies in the winter. Tastes great, no peelilng, and we get all the fiber!
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No peeling…..that sounds like a very good idea!
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Your flowers still look good Joni – I hate to tell you how my yard looks now. The rosebushes won’t win any prizes and I lost a Boxwood over the Winter, then today on the news I saw that a lot of Boxwoods bit the dust from the bitter temps the Winter of 2025-2026, plus some new moth-like creature attacking them. Boxwoods are usually hardy.
My friend Cherie’s husband is into heirloom tomatoes … it is a hobby for him and since they spent the entire Summer at their cottage up north, he plants a flower and vegetable garden there, not at their home. He has a lot of tomatoes and saves the seeds to start his heirloom tomato plants indoors the following Spring. Your peaches look nice – bet they were juicy too. I’m not buying any fresh produce. Michigan continues to be the state with the most cyclospora cases (14,300 cases, 335 hospital admissions and two deaths), so I’ll pass.
I’m monitoring several weather sites as we’re supposed to have severe weather tonight. In doing so, each of the sites and the live meteorologists say that we are having a hot spell next week. They’re saying it’s a good week for people to enjoy lakes, cottages, etc. After hearing that news, I groaned as I liked that brief bout of cooler conditions earlier in the week.
At least your post showed up in my Reader today.
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Thanks Linda. As far as I know we haven’t had any cyclospora cases here, but those peaches are locally grown, so I’m not worried. I thought you just had to avoid produce that was coming in from Mexico? We’re supposed to get a thunderstorm overnight too, and I saw the temps for next week – hot and humid again, so not liking that at all.
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About ten days ago they said we could resume buying produce again and eating lettuce (not bagged). But then a few days later there were increased cases of cyclospora and more hospitalizations again. Every day now I check the FDA website to ensure there are no recalls or alerts of food/products I use. The other day it was frozen blueberries. It was an off brand though. I put dried blueberries in my oatmeal – they are a big farm in Michigan and I bought them before this outbreak. I don’t take any chances and I’ll buy store brand canned items sometimes, but mostly stick to known brands. There was a storm in Monroe and Newport not long ago, but nothing here yet … I’m waiting for an all clear. That humid week next week does nothing for me and it will likely cause some severe weather as it’s going to be near 90.
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I know that top-of-feet sunburn feel, Joni – no fun at all. When we were on the CA coast a few weeks ago I was diligent about sunscreen on my feet, esp. since I hadn’t worn sandals all summer. I’m curious about your “Red Haven second” peaches. Does the wording mean fruit from a second round in a single season? I only like a peach in a hot peach pie (my mother’s version with a homemade crust + lattice was absolutely the best). Our hydrangeas did bloom this year but they took forever to pop. Finally, your initial comment about the Jays had me check the MLB standings with a month to go. Looks like you’re a die-hard considering your last-place no-chance-at-playoffs position. Then again, at least you’re loyal to your team. I can’t keep the faith with my Rockies (who appear to be NEVER going to the playoffs again) especially now that I live in a Southern state The Braves? No thank you – they’ve always been the enemy. Miami? Too far away. Guess I’ll opt for a good book instead of baseball 🙂
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Well I will be diligent from now on! I hadn’t had a sunburn for decades, so it was a good reminder to wear sunscreen no matter how long you are out or think you are covered up. Red Havens are a brand of freestone peaches, which means the stone is easier to remove. They tend to come later in the season, and are the best and sweetest and juiciest for jam making. I should have clarified but the “second” refers to fruit slightly bruised or over-ripe, more so than what they would ordinarily sell and thus cheaper and perfect for canning where you want slightly overripe. That basket of beaches in the photo were $10 a basket. But I got 3 baskets of seconds for $5 each as they were over-ripe. I had to can them the next day though, and even then lost some of them. When I was there last Saturday they had a big box of slightly bruised peaches for $15 so I was sorry I hadn’t waited…I’ve bought those before and they had at least 50 peaches in it. I never really liked peach pie for some reason, maybe because I compare all pies to apple! My mother made me a peach pie once for my birthday, but as no one raved about it, it was never repeated. Her apple pies and pastry were divine. As for the Jays, well, they have come up in the standings from a month ago, to the extent that they are now winning some games and series, but I fear it is too late. They are still 3 out of a wild card spot, whereas last week they were only 1 out, but there are so many teams about even vying for that spot, that it would take a miracle for them to get in. They have been battling way too many injuries all year. In the spring they had 11 players off with various injuries, more key players off in the summer, and now two key pitchers off. Plus none of last years sluggers are slugging, although some of the younger players they acquired at the trade deadline seem to be doing well and have energized the team. But overall, just an off year for everyone. I’m not necessarily watching every game, but if I’m home the channel is set to TSN and I check the score once in a while. But I’ll watch this weekend as they are playing Seattle, who lost last year in the world series bid, so they will definitely be up for revenge! Except I can’t watch Friday night as it’s only Apple TV. I hate it when they do that. I’ve been reading lots of good, and some not so good, books lately. I’m going to try and pick up blogging more regularly so there may be some book reports coming. One on the number of grammar mistakes I’m finding, even in bestsellers, which is so annoying. I think they must be letting AI edit books now.
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