5 Things to Notice in July

This Month's Quiet Observations

July arrives in abundance and colour, with long evenings and hot days. The garden has settled into its summer rhythm - flowers are at their fullest, bees move steadily from bloom to bloom, and warm evenings carry the scent of herbs through the air.

July invites you to lean into the richness of the season rather than rush through it. Some of the season's greatest gifts are simply waiting to be observed. Here are five simple things to notice in the garden this month.

1. New Blooms Unfolding

As I sit at my desk, I can look out the window and see my white coneflowers opening up. July in the garden brings something fresh almost daily; every morning seems to reveal a brand-new bud starting to unfurl or a splash of colour you didn't notice yesterday.

2. Herbs Warming in the Evening Sun

I keep a planter box filled with herbs right by the back door. It's such a pleasure to watch them grow, and use them in dinner preparations. Rosemary, thyme, lavender, mint and oregano all release more fragrance as the warmth of the day begins to fade. If you grow herbs in your garden, don't forget to pause as you walk past.

3. Bumblebees & Butterflies Moving Between Blooms

Whenever we are sitting on the patio, it is always fun to spot the cute, round bumblebees buzzing from flower to flower. Watching those fuzzy, round bottoms work their way through the blooms, alongside the graceful flutter of visiting butterflies, is one of summer's most charming daily shows.

4. Early Dragonflies

We (me, Brennan, and Viviane) were out walking my favourite path last week. It's a spot bursting with plant life and wildlife. While watching the swans on the pond, I noticed tiny, baby dragonflies darting around the greenery near the water! They were so small and lively, it was exciting to see such little baby dragonflies. While August is usually the peak month for dragonflies, keep a lookout near water this month; you might just spot them starting out.

5. The Garden's Growing Thirst

July changes the rhythm of garden care. In spring, the garden asks us to plant and prepare. In summer, it asks us to return again and again—to water, observe, harvest, and tend.

July reminds us that growth does not happen without attention. The garden's need for water is not an interruption to summer; it is part of the relationship we build with the living things we nurture. It's a simple garden task that becomes a reminder that tending and receiving are both part of summer.

The seasons rarely announce themselves all at once. More often, they reveal themselves through small moments - a butterfly resting on a flower, the scent of thyme after a hot afternoon, or the surprise of a tiny dragonfly.

This month, choose to allow yourself time to simply pause and notice when you step into the garden. You may find that paying attention to the garden helps you feel a little more grounded in the season you're living through.