This Month in the Garden: June 2020

I mulched twice this month; I must be a glutton for punishment. I mulch for several reasons: to help prevent weeds; to keep the ground cooler in the heat of summer; and to help the soil retain water during periods of little rain. In addition, I like the way my beds look when they are mulched. My mulch of preference is natural cedar hardwood -- no dyes -- ground as fine as possible. This year, we had a big pile of finely ground catalpa chippings from the felled tree. It seemed a good idea to use it rather than make a purchase. Duane shoveled it into buckets and wheelbarrows; I did the spreading. After several days, it was finished. I stood back to admire my handiwork. I hated the way it looked. The color was too light; it did nothing for the plantings. Needless to say, poor Duane left for the garden center to purchase bags of cedar mulch. Several more days of hard work later, I felt much better about the appearance of my flowerbeds.

Horseshoe Garden. Top: with catalpa mulch. Bottom: with cedar mulch

While I did little more than spread mulch, the plants continued to grow, bud, and bloom with stunning results. My June gardens were lovelier than ever this year, as you will see in the following virtual tour. Forgive me if I don't give the horticultural names, but it's getting late, and I would like to post before July. If you have ID questions, please ask in a comment.

At the beginning of June, bearded iris and clematis in the Horseshoe Garden
 with Edward, the horse sculpture.

Other early June blooms: top - rhododendron, bottom left - spirea 'Golden Mound',
bottom right - spiderwort.

I have a secret spot, under the weeping cherry, where I sit and read.
Can you see the hollyhocks coming into bloom?

The first hollyhocks

Hydrangea 'Pinky Winky' starts off with white blooms that will turn pink then red.
Look across the pond. The five window boxes on the tractor shed are filling out.

I filled the window boxes with Supertunias.

More late-June blooms:

Clockwise from top right: My friend, Katharine, gave me the calla lily bulbs; clematis;
white lavendar and bellflower; zinnia.

The Cutting Garden

Clockwise from top right: beebalm; yarrow 'The Pearl'; coreopsis; another zinnia

I planted nasturtium among the herbs in the trug on the patio.

The cottage garden herbaceous border wont peak for another couple of weeks.

Hostas are budding in the Serenity Garden

My favorite hosta, gifted to me by my friend Karen, has cupped leaves that catch the raindrops.
It is blooming today.

The newly planted dawn redwood tree replaces the catalpa.
 There is work to do -- leveling and reseeding around it.

I stuffed most of my pots with zinnias and marigolds. Here I added white petunias.
They are filling out nicely. 'Tie-dye' clematis is blooming.

While the vegetables in the Kitchen Garden are coming along nicely, something (we think a groundhog) is eating them. You can see the damage in the bottom two pictures. I've sprayed a deterrent, covered some vegetables with row covers, and Duane set a trap. It's very discouraging.

To end on a lighter note:

Abundance Garden is beautiful with sage, roses, and drumstick allium.

I am linking with Sarah in England for her 'Through the Garden Gate' meme. Thank you, Sarah, for hosting. I am deeply grateful to my blogging friends around the world in these trying times. Reading your blogs and looking at pictures of your beautiful gardens bring me such joy.

My garden continues to be my solace during the pandemic. Although shops and restaurants are beginning to open here, I am still being cautious, and not venturing far from home. Every day, I feel blessed to have such a beautiful place in which to be quarantined. Also, I am enjoying my pets, especially Charm, the miniature horse, and my elderly goat, Billy. Even young Doodles, Duane's goat, though thoroughly spoiled can be very entertaining.

Stay safe and healthy!

Love,

Pamela x

Charm and me on our daily stroll through the Woodland Walk

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