What, as gardeners, are we to do in the middle of summer? All the bed preparation and planting that we did in spring has now come to fruition. You walk through your garden admiring your efforts, maybe stopping to pick some foliage and flowers for an arrangement for the dinner table. A little weeding here, a little more mulch there. Maybe you're doing a little extra canning of your tomatoes and peppers to give to a friend or family member. Life is good in the garden. Take this time to slow down and enjoy your efforts.

Gardening is not about 'keeping up with the Jones'. We all want a pretty landscape to make our home look nice, but gardening should go deeper than that. We dig and plant and water and await the results. Spring melts into summer, summer cools into fall, fall chills into winter, winter thaws back into spring. In the changing of the seasons we see the reflection of the cycles of our own lives. Take this slow time and enjoy, reflect, and admire what you have created. Creating a colorful landscape is much like creating a wonderful painting. And you are the artist. But unlike a painting, your work of art is ever changing and never really finished. What could you do to make it better?

In the cool of the evenings, sit in your garden with a gardening book or two and plan your perfect setting. If you have nowhere to sit that would be the first thing you need to change! Consider putting in a small table and some chairs in a small corner or maybe a bench along that pathway. You should be able to relax in your garden. Do you have any art in your garden? Most pathways could accommodate an archway covered with your favorite vine. Spend a day with a friend and explore antique shows and summertime flea markets. You are sure to find something unique that would help bring interest to your garden. Don't forget the wildlife in your garden. You can find not only birdhouses now, but also toad houses and butterfly houses. And every garden needs a birdbath! You may consider putting in a water garden. From the small to the grandiose, water gardens bring many attractive elements to your landscape.

You can only learn so much about plants from books or your local gardening center. The pictures in your books or the small plants at the nursery only tell you so much. I find it more informative to see the full-grown plants actually growing in the ground! In the coolness of the evenings, take a slow stroll or bike ride through the local neighborhoods. While you should never pick someone else's flowers, chances are they may be around to answer a question or two. You can observe what does well in sun or shade. You can also tell what looks nice when planted with other plants.

Now would also be an excellent time to visit some local public gardens. They usually have theme gardens such as butterfly, herb, and xeriscape gardens. You can see examples of plants that do well in our area and how they grow. Visit Zilker Botanical Gardens or the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. Galveston is the home of Moody Gardens. Another day trip might be to the San Antonio Botanical Center. And if you have never been to the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence, Texas you are missing out!

Gardening is unique in that it is a life affirming and life-long learning experience. Take this slow time to experience your art and expand your horticultural horizons. And enjoy this wonderfully wet and cool summer!