It looks like our (gardening) days are numbered!

Although this column won't see print for another week, I'm writing it on Sept. 1 and trying to come to grips with the fact that summer is basically over. Since it really only lasted for two months, that's a tough one to swallow.

Most of us had plants that didn't really do as well as they should have this year, especially some of the garden veggies. By the time the weather warmed up and they started to bloom, the heat arrived all too quickly. That put a damper on the pollination of many plants. Tomatoes, cucumbers and squash had a tough time of it. Those that did manage to get pollinated however, took off in the heat and did fairly well.

If you plan to move any of your perennials, do it as soon as possible. They will need some time to adjust to their new homes before Old Man Winter comes blasting through.

Also, don't wait too long to collect any seeds you may want to save. I like to keep cosmos, larkspur, cleome, love lies bleeding, and annual poppies, to name a few. Be sure to spread the seeds out to dry for a few days before bagging them up. I use either old prescription bottles or zip lock bags with the plant name written on them. Seeds keep well in the refrigerator. The tricky part is to remember to go out and spread them in early spring. Do the poppies in March and the others soon after that.

I really hate to say this, but our first light frost is due shortly. Be sure to keep one eye on the weather report and the other on the thermometer. Unfortunately, some of our favorites will turn black at the drop of a hat. The ones I usually lose first are the impatiens, marigolds, coleus and zinnias. They look so nice right now that it's hard to believe their fate is so near.

Have you seen any hummingbird moths? Actually, these aren't a type of hummingbird at all. They really are moths and are often referred to as Sphinx or Hawk Moths. The hummingbird moth can sometimes be mistaken for hummingbirds as they zip around in much the same way.

Also, if it has brown striping or yellow and black striping along its back (and it's not a bumble bee), it's most likely a hummingbird moth.

These belong to the Sphinx family of moths which include the Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth, the Tersa Sphinx Hummingbird Moth, and the White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth. The latter is what I've been seeing in my yard.

Hummingbird moths have a wingspan of five or more inches. These little guys are usually active at dusk but are occasionally seen during the day. They aren't as easily spooked as a hummingbird so if you move very slowly, you often can get close enough for a good look at one.

I got another bulb catalog in the mail today. Just what I need, more plants. Oh well, they will be eye candy in the spring and they aren't even fattening!

Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. Since then, she has always kept a garden of some sort, growing everything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and house plants. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is an active member of the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls.