These Boots are Made for Gardening

August Botanical Musings

“These boots are made for walkin’

And that’s just what they’ll do.” Nancy Sinatra

Growing up on the ranch, cowboy boots were essential gear. We didn’t wear them just for riding our horses or wrangling cattle–they were our everyday footwear for driving tractors, erecting fencing, walking through the fields, hiking in the hills, and everyday gardening. Rattlesnakes were a dangerous hazard, and as kids, we’d encounter one or more a week. In the event we stepped on a rattler, we were told that our tall leather boots could be a lifesaving protection.

When I moved, I kept up the tradition. Cowboy boots were my go-to gardening gear, even though rattlesnake encounters dropped to only once or twice in a year. While many gardeners opt for clogs or sneakers, I’ve always been a boot girl.

One stormy winter ruined a pair of my beloved boots. For Christmas, my daughter and her husband surprised me with a cheerful pair of flower-themed, rubber-soled gardening boots. The deep treads on those rubber boots provided stability against slipping on the slick slopes of my hilly landscape, while also keeping my feet warm and dry. I wore them constantly–until the soles split open and the sides wore out.

Thankfully, my son-in-law generously gifted me a new pair, which I wear proudly.

The boots are made for gardening. After a midsummer lull, my garden is once again ablaze in artistic tones. As I clomp around in my trusty boots, the show stealers are the daylilies, gladiolus, Jacobina, feverfew, yarrow, and four o’clocks as well as the continuous blooms of the clematis and roses. My hydrangeas are blossoming, although they can’t hold a candle to the spectacular specimens blooming in my friend Louise’s Garden.

While most people grow amaryllis indoors for a winter bloom, mine lives outdoors year-round, blooming in July.

One of the joys of living in zone 9b is that our warm, mild climate supports a wide variety of plants growing outdoors year-round, including both subtropical, Mediterranean, and tropical species, including favorites like hibiscus and bougainvillea.

One standout in my garden is the evergreen Jacobinia, known as the flamingo plant or Brazilian plume. Years ago, I snipped a stem from my grandmother’s plant, plunked it in a pot, and watched it thrive. Since then, I’ve propagated several more and planted them in the ground. This stunning perennial can reach heights of three to ten feet with fragrant flower clusters of pink, red, yellow, orange, or white.

Normally, when flowers fade on a perennial, the advice is to snip them off to allow the plant to rebloom. However, what I’ve learned over the years with the Jacobinia, is to let the plumes “reset”. In other words, I don’t deadhead this plant, but just occasionally pinch to stimulate branching. Within two weeks of the pink petals dropping, fresh flowers emerge from the green tufts. I save the serious pruning for early spring as new growth appears. A bonus to growing Jacobinia is that it is virtually pest and disease-free.

Speaking of pests…a wild flock of 32 turkeys–toms, hens, jakes, and jennies have adopted my garden as their personal playground and favorite restaurant. They devoured my plums, nibbled the tender shoots of my vegetables, uprooted flowers, and scratched up beds. I have resorted to using netting and wire cages to protect my precious plants.

Their droppings do fertilize the landscape…another reason that I wear boots instead of clogs when gardening. One morning, a stealthy coyote slinked up to the edge of the property. The turkeys took to the sky in a cacophony of fluttering wings. I stomped my boots, hollered, and the coyote charged away up the hill.

These boots may not be made for snake protection anymore, but they are still made for walking, working, and gardening!

Cynthia Brian’s Goddess Gardener Guide for August

TALK TURKEY: Tom turkeys fan their tails and puff themselves up to mark their territory. One trick I’ve done to get them to leave is to puff up my feathers by opening an umbrella and aiming it at the birds to mark my turf. I open and close it several times to let them know this is my garden. If you are having an issue with wild turkeys, try my tip and watch it work!

WATER WISELY: August is hot and dry. Water early in the morning or late evening to reduce evaporation. Encourage strong root systems with deep, infrequent watering.

MULCH to keep roots cooler and conserve moisture, as well as reducing weeds.

TRIM leggy perennials like lavender, sage, and yarrow.

ORDER spring bulbs now for fall planting. Consider daffodils, tulips, crocus, and iris.

PLANT cool-season vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, kale, and beets at the end of August.

DEEP SOAK young trees or any tree that may be suffering from the heat.

HARVEST tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and other vegetables to encourage ongoing production.

SPRAY spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies with an insecticidal soap as they thrive in hot weather.

COLLECT seeds from sunflowers, zinnias, calendulas, and beans to sow next season.

DEADHEAD spent blooms on zinnias, roses, salvia, cosmos, four o’clocks, and other perennials. (Don’t deadhead Jacobinia, just pinch occasionally)

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TREAT yourself to a comfortable, sturdy pair of gardening boots. Your feet–and your garden–will thank you.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing!

For more seasonal gardening tips and inspiration, grab a copy of Growing with the Goddess Gardener at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books.

Raised in Napa County vineyards, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3, named the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org .

Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at https://www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Her best-selling children’s series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures, is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Book Four, Flap Forward, Fly Free! arrives this fall.

Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com https://www.CynthiaBrian.com