Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for August 2026.
Here in my USDA hardiness zone 6a garden in central Indiana, we’ve been getting some rain. And then some more rain.
(Parts of the state east of me received record-shattering amounts of rain which flooded homes, businesses, roads, and other areas. Please pray for them! The governor has declared a state wide disaster because of the epic rain and flooding.)
In my own garden, August is one of those months with lots of “still-blooming” flowers while we wait for the fall flowers to arrive. Like the nasturtiums which have been blooming for a while now. I expect them to keep blooming all the way until frost knocks them down.
Brrrr.. let’s not talk about frost just yet!
I went out late afternoon on the 14th, after it had stopped raining, and took a few pictures of whatever caught my eye.
Want to see?
Let’s start with hardy begonias.
They kind of scream “August” to me. They are rather carefree too.
I’ve got a nice stand of Black-eyed Susans growing beneath a pawpaw tree.
Thank you for ignoring the weeds and tree seedlings.
Nearby, one of the viburnums has some nice berries on it.
The birds will leave eating those. That’s why I planted them.
Step on over to the Vegetable Garden Cathedral to see some sunflowers and a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
As much as I want to take credit for planting the sunflowers, alas, I did not. It’s a volunteer seedling. But I take credit for letting it grow.
Up on the patio I have some variegated basil that I’m liking a lot.
The variety is ‘Pesto Perpetuo.’ I bought it for the variegated foliage, but I like it even more with flowers.
And that’s a very quick look around as we reach the middle of August. August!
I could have also pictured Allium ‘Millenium’, white phlox, coneflowers, a few roses, a couple of daisies, some annuals in pots, Verbana bonariensis, Signet marigolds, hostas, leadwort, heucheras, zinnias, snapdragons, etc., even some mums, but I’m keeping it brief today!
As I’ve done since February, I’ve also included links to all my past GBBD posts for this month. It’s mostly for me but maybe you’ll find the commentary interesting?
August 2007 – I thought August would have no blooms of her own.
August 2008 – I listed everything that was blooming. I don’t do that anymore!
August 2009 – The garden seemed so new.
August 2010 – That yellow rose isn’t in my garden anymore!
August 2011 – A dry year, but flowers anyway!
August 2012 – We’d finally gotten some rain after a severe drought. A few lovely blooms.
August 2013 – A brief post with flowers I expected to see.
August 2014 – A good year for flowers!
August 2015 – Flowers that have gone over this year were still blooming at the same time in 2015.
August 2016 – The flowers weren’t as far along as they are this year.
August 2017 – A reminder of that little pink tickseed that has disappeared.
August 2018 – I showed a Clematis that has since disappeared from my garden.
August 2019 – I think the zinnias were pretty good in 2019.
August 2020 – A reminder that Joe Pye Weed has almost disappeared from my garden.
August 2021 – Some flowers were further along, others not as far along as this year.
August 2022 – About the same as this year, with pretty sunflowers.
August 2023 – The garden was not as far along as this year, and I had more zinnias.
August 2024 – Barnardia and Toad Lilies were blooming already.
August 2025 – The surprise lilies were still going strong.
And that’s my contribution for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for August 2026, the last one I’ll do in August as I slowly wind down this meme, which will end in January 2027, after 20 years. 20 years! That’s like seven internet generations, isn’t it? I must have started this when we were still using dial up modems?
Anyway, feel free to join in. It’s so easy to do. Just post on your blog, Substack, Instagram, or wherever you share about your garden about what’s blooming in your garden on or around the 15th of the month. Then leave a comment below telling us about what’s blooming in your garden!
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” – Elizabeth Lawrence
Beautiful
Your garden is looking wonderful for August and I especially love the sunflowers and Pesto Perpetuo! Not only is it delicious to eat, but the purple blooms are a hit! Happy Bloom Day! (To tour my garden, visit A Guide to Northeastern Gardening-link on the pull down menu)
Thank you so much for doing this blog. I first heard you a number of years ago doing an interview on 610 radio with Ron Wilson. Purchased Potted and Pruned (signed). Looking forward to reading more of your books. I have a couple of my grandmother’s old shoes and would like to get new custom in them. ANY suggestions? Thanks again from Ohio
I am happy you missed the torrential rains. I grew the pesto perpetuo basil years ago – I couldn’t get it locally but I got it as a plant from (I think) Burpees. Several years ago it disappeared from their catalog and I wish I could grow it again. Loved your sunflower photo against the cloudy sky. Once again, thank you for keeping this meme going for all those years. Alana https://ramblinwitham.blogspot.com/2026/08/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-august-2026.html
I’m so envious of your rain, could you please send some over here to Virginia? We’re still in drought conditions, since the beginning of the year. Your garden is looking wonderful. I love those hardy begonias, but mine keep getting eaten by deer.
I’m sorry to hear of the flooding in your state, Carol! I hope the deluge subsides quickly without causing further damage.
I admire your abundant sunflowers. I sowed my seeds late this year and, so far, I just have a single flower stalk that looks like it’s thinking of blooming.
Hi Carol, Good that you are getting rain. It beats the alternative. A day late as usual but still happy to share our flower pictures. — jw https://macgardens.org/?p=8307