Finally, we turn the calendar page and it seems that fall may be coming. After miserable heat in August, I am looking forward to cooler days, wearing sweaters, the colors of autumn. Arising early, I love watching the view of the mountain ridges and valleys as it changes every day. The light in the early morning this day was diffuse because of low clouds. A little shower was passing through.
All the humidity makes the flowers happy. The dahlia has given me more blooms than usual this year. I let the previous blooms go to seed and collected them last week. I hope to have more plants next year.
Sunlight breaks through the clouds and illuminates the lobelia mid-morning. This little plant has just been so happy this year, blooming profusely all summer.
I finally got a couple of marigolds. These were labeled as ‘monster marigolds’, supposedly large blooms. But these are about the size of a quarter. Hardly monster. Plus, I planted two flats (24 cells in all) and only got three actual plants.
A hazy dawn with pastel colors in the clouds, was followed by a clear sky and brutally hot temperatures. Ugh, I really do hate summer heat.
The deer came by to see what tempting treats my garden could offer. They already ate the hostas to the ground, but there are some additional plants on the side of the driveway. Plus, the acorns are starting to fall. The slight reflections at the top are from the glass door. I took these photos from inside the house so I wouldn’t frighten them away.
This may be a mother – daughter pair. The smaller one still has the faint spotting of a yearling, likely born last spring.
The other one appears to be fully grown. She was also a bit more wary, flicking her tail.
Inside, I set the pub table with my Colors of August place mats. I forgot to take a photo of the table, but it looked substantially like this one from 2024. The only difference is I used gold chargers and the yellow napkins were held with my little yellow flower pot napkin rings.
An amazingly cool morning with low humidity the last week of August made me open every window in the house. I had to sit on the veranda for a bit as well, reveling in the crisp air. The petunias are almost done, and I had cleaned out the pots the day before. The geraniums and impatiens are blooming well in their pots.
The color of the geranium is such a vibrant pink. This is the one I rooted from a cutting.
I continue to be amazed at the torenias, which I planted from seeds saved from last year. The pot is full and lush, covered in flowers.
Another morning begins with high humidity and fog in the soft blue light of dawn. I love this view, with the fog settling in the valleys between the ridges. Many mornings have had fog in the valley like this until the sun burns it off. On several mornings, the fog was so thick that I couldn’t see past the driveway circle.
I go out to check on my tomatoes. There are a few that critters have ruined, so I pull those to discard. Another cluster is in process of ripening, and I hope they make it without damage. But I notice the tops of the plants are denuded of leaves, with stems cut off as well and I know I have a tomato hornworm at work.
It takes me a good 10 minutes to find the bugger, but finally I see it under a leaf. It is plucked off and thrown away. But I know must be more vigilant from here on. This is the second one I’ve found this summer, and now is the time they really attack.
Thankfully, nothing is eating my basil. Some sourdough bread and a bit of olive oil, and we’ll have lots of bruschetta on the menu.
September means the Mountain State Fair is just around the corner, with turn-in day on Labor Day next Monday. The photographs are printed and mounted. This year I am entering two in the black and white categories of Animals in Nature and Landscape. The color photos are in Flowers, 2025 Mountain State Fair, and Landscape. I have a purse and a tote for the clothing division.
I finished my quilting division entries, and lay them flat on the guest bed. I am ready earlier than I ever have been before, mainly because I am not entering the crafts division at all this year. I have a fundamental disagreement with the way that division is being run, so I am not entering it this time, nor will I judge for it. I’ll show you the finish on Fleur Lumineuse soon, along with the two bee theme entries I worked on in August. Last year’s Christmas wall hanging is going into the wholecloth category as it is a panel. Then, my Freedom Waves quilt published in McCalls Quilting Summer issue will be entered into bed quilts.
Fair time means testing recipes for cooking competitions. Here is an idea that tasted great, but was a miserable failure in execution. The idea was an easy apple dumpling using jumbo biscuits. But the biscuits did not hold together. All but one came apart in baking. As appearance is 30% of the score, these wouldn’t pass muster on that criteria.
Ah, well. Some caramel sauce on top and My Sweet Babboo had dessert one night. He ate the rest of them without caramel for breakfast over the next two days.
I received a nice gift last month from a long time, dear friend. This is a wax plant, and I had never seen one until this day. She said it thrives on neglect, which is perfect for me. I put it in the Carolina room, a three season porch. Since I moved the iron stand back there, it is the perfect spot for it. The long vines can hang down to the floor. I did snip off the ends to clean it up a bit.
The flower has a faintly sweet fragrance. They bloom in clusters of star shaped flowers called an umbel.
It is good to be back blogging again. I did need the time away, and I am so grateful for the support while I was off. For all those who sent emails as the month wore on, you’ll never know how much I appreciated you checking in on me. I got a good start on some new designs, made good progress on the upcoming Fall Fortnight event, and did some fun things I’ll share as we go forward.
What have you been doing in August? Are you looking forward to fall?
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From My Carolina Home 
A rest is always good, but glad you’re back! Cooler weather will be welcome, but not sure we’re done with hot temperatures. I love your mountain views & your wildlife visitors. Even kitchen “failures” can taste yummy.
Good to see you back at it!
I think my marigolds were mislabeled too! I thought what I bought were large pom pom type marigolds but the blooms are no bigger than a nickel.
What a spectacular picture of the hornworm!
Good luck at the fair! One of my quilts got juried into a show…have to put the final touches on it.
Rock on Carole!
Jo Anne
Good to have you back Carole ! Everyone needs a break now and then and how good it feels too !
Brenda
Glad you are back! I hope you enjoyed the rest, you deserved it! You really have a green thumb. Even with plants that thrive with neglect, I end up murdering them, doggone it.
Carole,
Lovely pictures as you always do. I’ve attached my collection of Apple Dumpling recipes, most are made with crescent rolls, but some are from scratch. Some are the same recipes from different sources but just zipped the folder with all of them. So I thought you might try the crescent ones instead of biscuits.
Beverly
Welcome back! I hoped to see something from you now that we’ve another page on the calendar. Summer is going out with a whimper, 3 dark showery days in a row. Downstairs the garden slugs “raced” up my sliding glass doors. They’re as welcome as your tomato hornworms. At least your caterpillars will morph into beautiful moths. All I’ll get is 8ft of trails to squeegee off.
Good to see your post again!!
So nice to hear your “voice” thru your writing and photo’s. I agree, August was brutal heat! Marigolds are funny. I used to buy them in pots at the big box store. My gardening friend told me to save the dried flower heads in a paper lunch sack and have free seed for the next year. I used to do that and really enjoyed sowing those free seeds. You have gotten a lot ready for the fair. Good luck with all your entries.
Happy to hear your update! Such a beautiful view from your porch!
It’s always fun to see what you are putting in the fair. I am not entering this year as I just didn’t get motivated in time, but I am judging at a couple of fairs just to keep connected.
Glad you’re back. As always your pics are great. I’m not looking forward to fall since it means winter will be here soon. I’m hoping to get started with some new projects soon. Have a great day.
It’s so good to see a post from you again, Carole! I’ve been missing you, and it sounds like I’m not the only one. It’s wonderful to see your beautiful views, wildlife, flowers, and projects. The torenia is gorgeous! I’ve never grown that, but marigolds I can do. I have a table topper made from your August collection – it’s so pretty for late summer. I’ll have to get it out!
Love your wax plant which I’ve always called Hoya. My favorite one died a year ago and I’ll have to get another start. They do like to be root bound and have good light. August was dry, sometimes hot and sometimes smokey from the fires in the eastern part of the state and British Columbia to the north. Lots of flower bed weeding and starting a golf themed rag quilt for my daughter’s “grandma nursery”. Beautiful pics and so glad to see you’re back after a break in your blog.
Hello there, so nice to see your blog pop up this morning. I do love your morning mountain photos, they are really delightful. As are the deer which come to nibble your plants as they visit you. I’m looking forward to seeing all about the show too.
Hi,It’s good to hear from you again. Can you tell me what is your method for getting geranium cuttings to be successful plants? I have some really nice hanging ones I would like to save before winter. Also I have some torrenia plants for the first time. How to get the seeds? Thanks so much. Good luck with your fair entries.Carol O
Hi Carol,
For the geraniums, I cut slits in the bottom of a cutting, then dip it in rooting powder than place in water. It takes about a month for it to grow roots, then plant. I posted about this in early May – https://frommycarolinahome.com/2026/05/01/spring-in-the-garden/, then on this post you can see the roots – https://frommycarolinahome.com/2026/05/31/late-may-in-the-garden-3/
For the torenias, I waited for the flowers to fade, then carefully gathered the plant into a plastic bag and shook it. The seeds are really tiny. In the spring, I planted the contents of the bag, spent flowers and all. They didn’t start growing until late June, so be patient.
Really enjoyed reading your morning update. Hope you had a restful break. Obviously you have been getting your pieces ready for the State Fair and trying out new recipes. The Apple Dumplings may not have impressed the judges but they looked delicious as can be attested to by your husband!
Lovely to have you back :))
Mary :))
LOVE all the photos and your lovely news. I’ve been off the grid for a while (seems you were too?) So many wonderful photos. Thanks for everything!
You were sorely missed, my friend, and it is good to see you back! You certainly made good use of your time, prepping for the fair. Love the photos and I know your quilts will be winners (again!). I missed your gorgeous tables, sweet deer, beautiful flowers and lovely verandah, so glad you had a wonderful break — and that you are now back on blog!
I was amazed I didn’t have a lot of trouble with the horn worm this year – I went through one spell and found 4 of them and then one more time I found one and then none. All of your flowers are so pretty. I have been bad about not reading all the blogs this summer -I’ve been neglectful and need to get into a better routine.
Glad you’re back. I’m really looking forward to Fall Fortnight. I have a rather black thumb, so I love living vicariously through your gardening. And the pictures are always so beautiful and inspiring. Happy Fall!
Welcome back! I have been gone more than in during August as well, so am just now catching up on several weeks of posts! I was a String Camp for a week, then canning outside because it was still so stinkin’ hot, cleaning up the garden, and celebrating the 3/5 inches of rain we got mid month. What a shocker that was, but so appreciated and needed. It was the first notable precipitation since last October. I took a lot of stuff to the fair, then did heavy duty cleaning and prep for the beginning of lessons which started last Monday. It was busy, but like you, its good to be back to “the office” and working on music and crafting stuff.