Autumn Countdown: 4 Weeks to Go – August Borders Autumn

Welcome to August. It feels like we only just started this 12-week series and yet somehow, there are already only four weeks left until September.

August is a special month, full of anticipation and a little bit of nostalgia for things coming to an end. The long shadows, tractors in the fields, ripe brambles, sunflowers bowing their heads… it all reminds us that Summer is waning and the power of the sun is weakening... soon to be taken over by cold winds and the rusty colour palette of Autumn.

📅 Sunday, August 3rd, 2025
Today marks 4 weeks until Autumn!

I suppose it really depends on the person, as I’ve heard that this shift is depressing… but for me, it sparks a feeling of belonging and safety that, for some reason, always begins in August.

As per the title… August borders Autumn. I heard this expression some years ago and it returns to me every year. I’ve heard people call August “Aug-tober,” but I like to think of it as Pre-Autumn. Because that’s exactly what it is.

August is the last month before the weather starts cooling (it might even drop below 15°C / 59°F in September here in the UK). The days will become noticeably shorter and farmers will begin wrapping up their harvesting efforts in preparation for Winter.

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What changes and hints of Autumn to look out for in August

August might look different depending on where you live in the world, but here, in the English countryside, the changes begin subtly and intensify as we near September. Of course, a lot also depends on the year. I felt like Spring arrived late this year, but I’ve got a feeling that Autumn might come early. Here’s what I’ve already noticed or will be looking out for:

- Apples and pears swelling
- Tomatoes, courgettes, blackberries ripening
- Wildflowers fading
- Earlier sunsets
- Cooler mornings with mist
- Summer birds quietening, giving way to crows, crickets and rustling leaves
- Light shifting to golden hues and longer shadows
- First leaves falling
- Hay or straw bales dotting the fields
- Dry, cut remains of wheat or barley covering the ground

Have I missed anything? Let me know!

Some of you asked for a garden update. We’ve got an abundance of courgettes and basil at the moment and I’ve finally started picking tomatoes - just a handful a day, perfect for lunch! In the top left corner is my biggest pumpkin so far.

I also got way too excited when I found an Autumn leaf in the garden on Saturday morning - I think the wind blew it in from the nearby trees.  And lastly, the brambles growing through our red rose bush are starting to ripen too.

Finding an Autumn leaf in your garden is a good enough reason to light the Autumn Leaves candle, right? Asking for a friend :)

What you might feel

It hasn’t been that long since supermarkets and takeaways became part of daily life. For thousands of years, humans lived without the comforts of the modern world, following the natural rhythm of the seasons.

Although we are lucky to live in the 21st century, with modern medicine and relative safety, to name just a few blessings, I don’t believe the instincts of our ancestors can be erased so easily... or at least, that’s my theory:)

I think we, as one of the many links in the natural chain, naturally respond to the seasons and feel the urge to do the same things our ancestors did for thousands of years.

In August, our grandparents worked in the field and garden, preserved food, gathered supplies and created a sense of security for the colder months ahead. You might feel called to do the same: declutter, clean and begin gathering things for Autumn and Winter.

I recently made a batch of pizza sauce and will soon be pickling courgettes (we have a lot!). Although the days are still warm, the wind can be chilly and I’m already thinking about shopping for cosy cardigans for garden work and countryside walks.

Of course, home décor will be a big focus for me this year. Although our new house probably won’t be completed -  there will still be empty corners and white walls - I’ll still want to make it feel as cosy and warm as possible for Autumn.

To make pizza sauce: all you need is a can of chopped tomatoes. Cook them down in a pan until reduced, then blend or mash until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, a little bit of sugar and herbs if you like  - and that’s it! One can usually makes enough sauce for 4 pizzas (using the dough recipe below).

This is the pizza dough recipe I’ve been using for a few years now: Sainsbury’s Pizza Dough. I usually double it, which gives us 4 pizzas - enough to feed the four of us for dinner, with some leftovers for the next day.

A gentle task for this week

August is a month of anticipation, but not of passive waiting. Consider your life from the perspective of a harvest: What affairs would you like to close before Autumn and the cold weather arrive? Are there any DIY projects or forgotten corners you’ve been meaning to declutter? Are there plans you always dream of doing this time of year, but somehow they slip away? Like making a batch of jam with apples from the garden? Or going for more walks while the sun is still warm and ground dry?

The anticipation of Autumn encourages us to take action and get things done around the house and for some of us, it may stir a deeper desire to sort through personal affairs too. Now is the time to get things in order for a peaceful and cosy Autumn ahead.

Thank you for reading and for being here for two months already!
Adriana x