End of Summer?

Where did the summer go? I can't believe it's already September 1st, it's that time when I stop fertilizing everything and prepare the bananas and palms for winter with lots of Potassium. I've been watering like crazy due to the lack of rain all summer, until yesterday when we broke the record rainfall for the month of August of 15mm in one day! Much needed for all of our forests! According to accuweather.com, we can basically "put a fork in summer 2010 for much of western Canada" and see a unusually cold midwinter. While no one here likes to hear such depressing news, it's good forewarning to myself to plan my overwinter methods for the palms.
Here are before and after pics of my and Sam's nannas...planted July 12th and taken again Aug. 30th.