Second Summer: August in the Garden
Posted by Annie Algren on Aug 23rd 2026
Second Summer: August in the Garden
August often feels like the garden’s second Summer: a moment when the season gathers itself and blooms again with renewed color and purpose. After the early blush of Spring and the flourishing fullness of June & July, the garden takes on a different rhythm.
As many earlier flowers fade, late-season blooms thrive and provide critical nectar & pollen for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators preparing for the coming change in seasons.
Second Summer Standouts
Minnesota’s second Summer rewards plants that can handle:
- Temperature swings – Hot days, cooler nights
- Variable rainfall – Periods of both drought and heavy storms
- Shorter growing season – Timely growers that still make a statement
Here are a few standout perennials to consider planting that help define and carry the beauty of August’s second Summer:
Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Fragrant and vibrant, especially in well-ventilated areas to reduce mildew.
Sedum / Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)
Succulent foliage that transitions into dusty pink blooms, then rust-colored seed heads.
Yarrow (Achillea spp.)
Flat-topped blooms that hold up well in heat and attract beneficial insects. Opt for the Minnesota native variety Achillea millefolium for an even greater benefit to your garden's ecosystem.
Blazing Star (Liatris)
A striking vertical accent that thrives in full sun and draws in a wide range of pollinators.
Coneflower (Echinacea)
A prairie flower that thrives in heat and thrives in poorer soils (especially native varieties), offering long-lasting blooms and essential nectar for bees and butterflies. Opt for the native variety Echinacea purpurea for aneven greater benefit to your garden ecosystem.
Bergamot (Monarda)
A drought-tolerant, showy bloomer beloved by pollinators. Plant the native variety Monarda fistulosa for an added boost to pollinators and one that's well-suited to naturalistic plantings.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Extremely hardy and long-blooming, it carries bright color through heat and into early Fall.
Aster (Symphyotrichum)
One of the most important late-blooming beauties, supporting migrating butterflies and late-foraging bees. Opt for the native Symphyotrichum novae-angliae for even greater benefit to your garden's ecosystem.
Goldenrod (Solidago)
Great late-season bloomer that provides critical late-season pollen without overwhelming the garden. Opt for the native variety Solidago speciosa that is a less aggressive spreader and for an even greater benefit to your garden's ecosystem.
Perennials define second Summer not through perfection, but through persistence. They remind us that a garden is not only about peak bloom, but about continuity: plants that return, adapt, and carry the season forward year after year.
In August, they are not fading - they are fulfilling their purpose! Stop by the Perennials Department at Tonkadale to check out our favorite Second Summer standout perennials!
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If you would like assistance picking out or caring for Second Summer Standouts, feel free to stop in and ask! Otherwise, email us at hello@tonkadale.com - we're here to help!