There is a particular hum to the Cotswolds in August. The days feel long and generous, filled with a warm, unhurried rhythm that seems stitched into the landscape itself. Morning light falls softly across the hills, warming the stone walls until they glow, while afternoons are scented with cut grass, late roses, and ripe fruit. Out in the fields, the combine harvesters work steadily, their low purr drifting across the countryside.

This is the month when the land seems both busy and at rest, full of quiet industry and moments of still beauty. Gardens brim with dahlias, anemones, plums, and the first apples, while the vegetable beds are rich with cucumbers and courgettes. And amid all this abundance, there is the gentle work of keeping everything flourishing - small daily rituals that connect us to the season. I’ll also share my six essential August garden care tips for making the most of these golden days.

The Season’s Offering

In the garden, August is a celebration of abundance. Plums hang heavy and purple against the green leaves, their skins warm from the sun and their scent almost syrupy in the heat. The first dahlias are opening, each one a perfect study in form, their petals folded in neat precision or flaring out in flamboyant display. Hydrangeas are at their peak, soft hues of creams and whites that shift subtly with the light.

Under the apple trees, branches are heavy with early fruits that are ready for picking. Their skin is taut and cool to the touch, promising that first crisp bite and a burst of tart sweetness. These early apples are a sign of what is to come, the start of autumn’s orchard bounty. Yet for now, the roses are still in bloom, scattering their petals across the lawn and perfuming the air like a gentle reminder that summer is far from over.

In the vegetable garden, cucumbers wind their way along supports, their skins glossy and fresh, while courgettes appear almost overnight, hidden beneath their broad, green leaves. This is the time for simple cooking, where ingredients need little more than good olive oil, sea salt, and perhaps a scattering of herbs to taste exactly as they should.

Caring for the Garden in August

While August offers plenty to harvest and admire, it is also a month of gentle tending. Here are the key ways we care for the garden now:

Water early or late
Give plants a deep drink in the cool of the morning or evening to prevent evaporation and help them thrive in the summer heat.

Deadhead for more blooms
Remove spent flowers from dahlias, roses, and sweet peas to encourage a second flush of colour and fragrance.

Pick vegetables regularly
Harvest courgettes and cucumbers while they are tender, as they can grow quickly and lose flavour if left too long.

Support heavy branches
Early apple and plum trees may need props to prevent strain on laden branches, and fallen fruit should be gathered promptly to deter pests.

Tidy and trim
Lightly prune hedges and keep garden paths clear for easy movement and a neat, inviting feel.

Refresh pots and planters
Add late-summer colour with pots of herbs, geraniums, or trailing lobelia to carry brightness well into autumn.

These small, regular tasks keep the garden thriving and make it a place to linger. They also slow the pace of the day, allowing you to notice how the season shifts from one week to the next.

Life in the Cotswolds This Month

Beyond the garden gates, the Cotswolds are dressed in gold. Fields ripple with wheat ready for harvest, their edges lined with wildflowers and the last whispers of Queen Anne’s lace. Hay bales rest across the fields like giant punctuation marks in the summer story. Villages hum with the gentle activity of summer visitors, the scent of warm scones drifting from tearooms.

Evenings are long and drowsy. The light lingers on the honeyed stone cottages, and as the sun dips, the air holds a pleasant softness that invites late suppers outdoors. At Grove Farm, these evenings are often spent gathered around a table in the garden. The clink of glasses mingles with the murmur of conversation. Children dart between the trees and vegetable beds while adults linger over coffee and dessert. The holidays bring friends and family to stay, each guest adding to the easy, joyful bustle that fills the farmhouse.

Inside, rooms are prepared with quiet care. Crisp sheets are pulled tight over feather duvets, a jug of cut flowers is set by the bedside, and in the bathrooms, our Anemone Hand Wash Duo waits on the sink. Its clean, fresh scent carries the feeling of a summer morning into the start and end of each day. It is a small touch of luxury, a way to make each guest feel not just welcomed, but truly at home.

A Month Between Seasons

August is a threshold. It belongs fully to summer, yet it carries a faint echo of what is ahead. The mornings are still warm, but sometimes there is a coolness in the shade. The fields are lush and green, but the hedgerows are dotted with blackberries. It is a month for savouring the now, knowing it will soon give way to something different.

For us at Grove, August is also a reminder of why we create our fragrances. The scent of grass warmed by the sun, a memory of summer evenings spent outdoors with friends, the seasonal joy of flowers dancing on a breeze - these are the moments that stay with you, carried forward into autumn and winter. They are Britain remembered not through photographs, but through the quiet, powerful memory of scent.

This is also why we are so delighted to share our NEW Anemone Discovery Box. It’s a beautiful way to discover GROVE England for yourself, or to offer someone a thoughtful introduction to Anemone. Inside, you’ll find our Anemone Travel Eau de Parfum (RRP £26), a handbag-sized notebook for your own summer reflections, and a welcome card with a unique offer. Consider it an invitation into our world: thoughtful, elegant, and designed to be remembered.

So we treasure these August days while they are here. Filling vases with flowers, baskets with fruit, and evenings with the voices of people we love - we are quite literally filling our cups. We step outside in the late light and breathe it all in. That is August at Grove Farm, and it is something worth holding close.

with love,
Laura x
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