August has always meant family gatherings, beach days, ripe peaches and fresh corn and a string of long hot afternoons that drag straight into a starry night. For as long as I can remember August has ruled the summer. Bathing suits and towels slung over deck railings, everyone talking around a table filled with farm fresh everything, sandy feet padding about on sandy paths, berries popping from vine to mouth and all the time in the world to do nothing. Hands down August wins every time.

Even living in SoCal, the perpetual summer location, I needed to travel north for all the things I love the most about August, starting with a lake paddle and swim with these two delightful Oregonians. Lost Lake, with Mount Hood as sentinel, is deep and clear and clean and surrounded by forest. I can’t think of a better way to remember summer joy than plunging right into the middle of this water, which of course, we did.

Cardamon rose dust sprinkled across your vanilla soft serve? Yes please. I remember to treat myself in August. Leave dieting off my August menu and eat all the good stuff, especially peaches. But here everything wonderful is available so I just eat what is growing, and once heading out into the woods, I find those wild berries. With love.

Speaking of woods, aaahhhh, they are indeed lovely in August. Cool and shady, filtering the unrelenting heat, and filled with bird song. I only want to stroll endlessly in August. I’ll race around again come September.

The bounty surrounding us is filled with so much beauty: dahlias and hydrangeas, ready to grace your home. Selecting each stem another delight. Truly, August wins every time, don’t you think?