Strolling Through My June Gardens

False hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides)

Let's take a virtual walk. I know we are all so very tired of virtual events but it's far too hot outside today, so this must be an on-line visit. The temperature was  90°+ F with high humidity here in the Poconos all this week. It is considerably higher in the Pacific North West so I'm not complaining. I've been staying inside in the air conditioning and catching up on my writing assignments, beginning with this long-overdue blog posting. 

In spite of the heat, my June garden is lovely. In Serenity, the false hydrangea vine over the swing is stunning this year. This showy plant took a few years to establish but was worth the wait, especially as it is a very, low maintenance vine. It is holding up well in the heat, too, which is more than can be said for the roses. I'm glad I took a few rose pictures earlier in the month, because they are nearly done now, and Japanese beetles are consuming the few remaining blooms.

A rose bed located next to the pond contains my favorite Rosa 'Lichfield Angel' by David Austin. 

 

 

The small white flowers on the shrub behind Bambi, a frequent visitor, are those of Rosa multiflora, an invasive plant and noxious weed in PA. They carry the rose rosette disease which, I fear, has infected two of my favorite roses!

Bloom-wise there is not too much happening in the cottage garden this month, but growth is lush and promising. Purple cone flowers and hollihocks are coming into flower.
 

Hollihocks on the left of this grassy walk and purple cone flower on the right. There are peonies in these beds too, but they had a very brief bloom this year due to the first heat wave at the beginning of the month.

Hollihock (Alcea rosea)

I was delighted to see that Delphinium x 'Magic Fountain Sky Blue' returned. The plant in front is Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' - a true bee magnet

 

 Where there is a lack of color this time of year, I add hanging baskets and pots of annuals.

The hostas are blooming in the foundation bed in Serenity Garden.

 I am so glad that I can see the fountain from my chair in the garden room because each day a hummingbird stops by for a drink. Isn't he adorable?

Ruby-throated hummingbird

The white and cream Astilbe are blooming and the red one will follow soon

I am pleased with the progress of the lavender border that I wrote about last month.  If you remember I planted it at Jonathan's request. He has loved lavender since he first discovered it on a trip to England for my mother's (Jon's Great Nan's) ninetieth birthday when he was six.

The picture on the right is from last month's posting of Lavender 'Phenomenal' Lavandula x intermedia. Top left shows how much they grew. Bottom left was taken in England in 2009 when Jonathan first discovered lavender. His love-affair with the plant began that day.

 

Despite the heat, the kitchen garden is doing fine. I am still picking snow peas, cabbages, cauliflower, kale, spinach, and Swiss chard.

The pole beans appear a bit crisp at the end of each day but revive by next morning.

 

I inadvertently allowed the Bok Choy to flower. The leaves are still tender but the stalks are tough. The bees love the blooms so I don't feel so bad.

Bok Choy Blooms

 

Just before the temperatures soared, my friend Katharine and I toured another friend's garden. Joan lost many ash trees to the emerald ash borer and she filled the space where some of the trees were removed with a meadow garden. She planted rose campion, evening primrose, coreopsis, wild daisy, white and pink yarrow, butterfly weed, fever few, and perennial foxgloves. The most stunning, however, were the larkspur.

Joan's Meadow Garden

 

I considered planting a meadow garden after meeting Mike Lizotte at a conference before the pandemic. Mike wrote Mini Meadows, a book illustrated by my favorite photographer, Rob Cardillo. I didn't pursue that particular dream, however, as I felt that I had no space for another garden. Now I've had a brilliant idea! What about the old horse pasture? I no longer have a horse and the goats don't need it. Joan's meadow garden has inspired me to start my next project!!! Watch this blog ...

June was extremely busy for us as we held a large event last weekend. My husband lost a dear friend to COVID in January. Jimmy had no family, so Duane and I arranged the funeral followed by a Celebration of Life in our garden. Of course, we had waited until the restrictions were lifted. It was a beautiful tribute to Jimmy and worth all the stress and hard work. 

Making an early start on getting the gardens ready for visitors paid off, especially since the second heatwave hit. I'm now into maintenance mode and should have more time to resume my normal schedule of writing two or three blog posts a month. My next topic must be the visit to Longwood Gardens that I promised. 

I am linking with Sarah Down by the Sea in Dorset for her monthly meme. Oh, to be in England for the June flowers!

Love,

Pamela

Red begonia in Janet's basket on my gate

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