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Make yourself comfortable, grab a glass of cold water, and let me tell you about the garden in this month of August. It is such a special time of year, when the earth is heavy with sunshine and every task must be done gently, without ever rushing anything.
The big harvests: lemon verbena, sage, and lemon balm
Look at these beautiful bushes, it is the perfect time to tend to them. For the sweet lemon verbena, I cut the stems in the morning, just after the dew has evaporated but before the sun gets too hot. That is when the leaves keep all their lovely lemon scent. My mother always hung the bundles upside down in the barn, well sheltered from the light so they would keep their beautiful green color. We love it so much as an infusion in the evening, it is gentle and helps you unwind before slipping under the sheets. It is a simple little ritual that does good for the body and mind after a long day of work.
For the garden sage, I only take the most beautiful leaves, without ever stripping the plant completely. It is a precious plant that our elders respected deeply. It was used in a thousand ways around the house in the old days, and even today, I like to dry some for the cooler days. It has that honest, slightly rustic taste that warms you up immediately. As for the lemon balm, it smells beautifully of lemon when you rub it between your fingers. It is very delicate and gets damaged quickly if handled roughly, so I handle it with great care. A nice cup of lemon balm is wonderful when you feel your stomach is a bit tight or when you find it hard to rest.
All these wonders will dry quietly on wooden racks in my kitchen. In August, we do not rush anything, we take the time to do things right. These simple gestures bind us to the earth and gently prepare us for the late season. If you have any doubts about a plant or if you are not feeling well, always go ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice, it is wiser. In the meantime, enjoy these sweet scents filling the house, it is the true joy of summer.
Watering in the evening, letting plants go to seed, and taking our time
Sit down on the bench, in the shade of the big linden tree. In August, the soil is hot and tired, so we must leave it in peace during the day. If you water under the midday sun, you will burn the leaves and waste water that will evaporate before even feeding the roots. Personally, I wait patiently for the sun to set behind the hill. That is the perfect time to bring out the watering can. We water at the base of the plants, gently, so the cool earth can drink every drop during the night. You will see that your herbs will thank you the very next morning by proudly raising their heads.
It is also the time to let certain herbs live their lives. Look at my coriander and fennel, I let them go to seed without stepping in. My mother always told me that the garden knows what it is doing. These little seeds drying on the stem are a treasure for next year and for our winter herbal teas. In the old days, we gathered these late summer seeds to infuse them after family meals that were a bit too heavy. It may help support digestion and soothe bloated bellies, a simple grandmother's secret passed down through generations.
So please, do not rush your garden this month. Do not try to prune everything or clean everything up to make it perfectly straight. Let nature slow down at its own pace. It is in this quiet of late summer that plants concentrate all their benefits. We take the time to live, we watch the bees get tipsy on the last lavender flowers, and we enjoy this gentle warmth. If you have any doubts about a plant in your garden or if you are not feeling well, always go ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice, it is wiser. For the rest, trust the passing of time and savor these beautiful August days.
What I wish for you this August
Listen to me closely, my child. For this month of August, I wish for you first to know how to slow your pace and waste a little time. It is the time of year when the earth asks us to take things slow, to watch the tomatoes turn red on their vine, and to breathe in the warm smell of the earth after the evening watering. I wish for you to sit on the garden bench with a tall glass of cold water infused with three mint leaves and a slice of lemon. Take this time for yourself, leave your worries and to-do lists behind, nature is working all on its own right now and doing a wonderful job.
Everything comes in its own time, we must know how to harvest what is ripe and let the rest grow at its own pace.
I also wish for you to find those simple gestures that my own mother showed me when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. It is the joy of gathering sweet lemon verbena just before the sun gets too hot, tying it into small bundles with a piece of string, and hanging it upside down in the kitchen. We did this to prepare for the long winter evenings, because we have always known that a good herbal tea from our gardens brings great comfort and may help support a peaceful sleep when the mind is a bit too restless. It is simple knowledge, but it does so much good for the body and the heart.
Finally, I wish for you to savor this quiet abundance without trying to control everything. In August, we learn patience, we accept that some flowers are getting tired and others are preparing to give their seeds for next year. It is a beautiful lesson the garden teaches us. Take care of yourself, enjoy this gentle warmth, and let nature rock you a little.
FAQ
Pour récolter la verveine odorante en août, je coupe les tiges le matin dès que la rosée s'est évaporée mais avant que le soleil ne tape trop fort. C'est à ce moment-là que les feuilles de verveine gardent toute leur bonne odeur de citron. Je les fais ensuite sécher à l'ombre, dans un endroit bien sec et aéré, pour en profiter tout l'hiver.
Oui, tu peux boire ta tisane de mélisse du jardin tous les jours, surtout le soir après le repas pour t'aider à te détendre avant de dormir. C'est une plante douce que l'on utilise depuis des générations pour apaiser les esprits tracassés. Si tu es enceinte ou si tu as un doute sur ta santé, demande tout de même conseil à ton médecin, c'est plus sûr.
Je laisse monter en graines mes fleurs de fin d'été pour que la nature fasse son travail et que le jardin se resème tout seul l'année d'après. C'est un secret de grand-mère tout simple : ces graines nourrissent les petits oiseaux du jardin pendant l'automne et me permettent de faire de belles économies au printemps suivant.
La meilleure heure pour arroser ton potager en août, c'est le soir au coucher du soleil ou très tôt le matin pour éviter que l'eau ne s'évapore tout de suite. En arrosant au pied des plantes quand la terre est refroidie, tu économises l'eau et tu évites de brûler les feuilles de tes légumes. C'est un geste de bon sens que mon propre grand-père m'a appris.
La sauge officinale se prépare traditionnellement en infusion après avoir fait sécher ses grandes feuilles veloutées à l'abri de la lumière. On l'utilise depuis toujours pour le bien-être de la gorge ou pour aider à digérer après un repas un peu trop lourd. Attention cependant, car la sauge est une plante très puissante qui ne convient pas à tout le monde, alors parles-en à ton pharmacien si tu prends des médicaments.
