I Love June!

Turns out that my garden blog has turned into a monthly recap format. Okay, works for me! I mostly keep my blog as a journal for myself anyway, while hoping that others may tune in to see what's going on here in Robin's Nest. Have I mentioned lately that I'm grateful for anyone who gives my blog a look-see? Well I am thankful that you're here. I particularly enjoy any comments left here for me. So feel free to chat at me, okay?

Let's talk about June in my garden, shall we? I suppose the main highlight of this month is the rain. Rain may be no big deal to you, but my little corner of the world generally turns dry each summer. But this June we've had generous rainfall, and like most gardeners, I'm pleased with it. Everything is green and lush, and actually a little jungle-like. I may come to regret it later on when all this growth needs to be brought under control. Right now, it just looks lovely, and I plan to enjoy it.

Another favorite part of my June garden has been the return of the butterflies. Butterfly gardening is the focus of Robin's Nest, and most of my plantings are meant to attract either butterflies or hummingbirds. So when the flutters start showing up in June, I get as excited as a child would. The first visitors are usually cabbage whites and red admirals. Although I have to admit that I am no longer enamored with cabbage whites, as they discovered the kohlrabi in my garden and proceeded to lay their hungry caterpillars all over it. Don't worry, they were all "dispatched".

But no other butterfly can match the monarch in my book. This year, I found monarch caterpillars on my milkweed before I ever spotted an actual monarch butterfly. I took them into the house to raise as I often do, and soon I had monarchs to release. The first actual monarch butterflies I spotted were my very own releases. I raised three of them, and they are now off to see the world. Just yesterday, I found 14 more eggs on that same milkweed! That's the most I've ever raised at once. It's actually the most I've ever raised all summer long. There are many other monarch maniacs who raise hundreds of these beauties each summer, but I run a very modest monarch operation here.

And then there are my ever beloved flowers. With the heat and rain that we've had, they are especially glorious this year. I did add some organic fertilizer to most of them, and that brings out even more blooms.

The roses didn't do well here over the winter, and I had to severely prune them back afterwards. But they've recovered well, and are even giving me some blooms. I didn't think I'd see much in the way of roses this year, but I'm glad that I was wrong. The bushes themselves are pretty small, so there aren't nearly as many flowers as usual. But I'm grateful for all of them, even if I have to battle the Japanese beetles for them right about now. Worst. Insect. Ever.

So yes, I love June in the garden. Who wouldn't? I'm not sure it gets much better than the month of June. It's summer, the weather is perfect, the flowers are blooming at their peak, and school is out. Aren't those some excellent reasons to love it?

Thanks for stopping by to see June in Robin's Nest!

Merry Month of May

There are many lovely months in the garden, but it's pretty hard to beat the month of May. I think the main reason that May is so beautiful is because the usual garden pests haven't had a chance to settle in. Everything is still green and fresh, and new blooms show up almost every day. Sometimes I don't even remember what they are! And look closely, you'll see my reflection in the glass...

One of my favorite parts of gardening is the fragrance of the many different things I have planted. This is my Chinese fringe tree in bloom, looking very lacy and delicate. But I had totally forgotten how fragrant these blooms are, almost like a jasmine, and strong enough to spread through my whole back yard.

Here's another fragrant favorite, my Sunny Knockout rose. What? You say you didn't know there was a fragrant Knockout rose? Only the yellow is fragrant, while also having all the best qualities of a Knockout rose. This thing will bloom all summer long, and has grown to almost mammoth proportions. No diseases to worry about, but I have to admit that the Japanese beetles love it. At my house, their favorite roses are always the yellow ones.

What's that pretty pink flower on the arbor in the background of the above photo, you say? Ah, that's the most fragrant flower of all. Zepherine Drouhin has moved up to the top of my favorite rose list this year. Thornless, incredibly fragrant, and just plain gorgeous, it's a must-have rose for me. It should be for you too. 

 

Iris is another pretty flower that is often fragrant. And you can't beat an iris for plain old fashioned beauty in the garden. 

Batik

Florentine Silk

 

No fragrance on this one. I'd call Amsonia hubrichtii a filler plant. Pretty foliage, charming blooms in the spring, but it's main attraction is in autumn when the foliage glows golden. They look best when planted en masse, and I haven't quite got that down yet. More are definitely needed. 

I only wish this gorgeous Fourth of July rose was fragrant. But it's beautiful enough to pass without it. Another one of my favorites. 

 I think I have this ninebark Diablo planted too close to the house, because it doesn't really have a chance to arch gracefully. It just looks crowded all the time. It's also hard to photograph so you can see how pretty it is. The arching stems and purple foliage are really pretty, especially during bloom time. 

As beautiful as peonies are, they are another one of my poorly sited plants. Just not enough sun and air movement to make them happy. Still, they do bloom very prettily each spring. After that, the foliage looks awful all summer. Maybe someday I'll move them to a happier spot. But then again, peonies also don't like being moved, so I don't know what's worse.

My plants love it in the Merry Month of May, don't you?

Quick Peek

It's been a busy time of year for me lately, and that means I haven't had time to devote to my garden. So instead of working in the garden, I went out to take a quick peek before heading off in another direction. I found the first rose bloomed! It was a bit beat up, but it does bode well for the upcoming rose season.

My beautifully fragrant iris continues to pump out the blooms. I can't love this one enough!

The alliums have peeked, and every year when they bloom I try to figure out why I don't have more of these.

We're being over run by lamium out front, but you have to admit it blooms beautifully. And it definitely does the job of covering the ground while still looking good.

I'm watching for my ninebark Diablo to bloom. What a lovely shrub this is.

By my front lamp post, I have two clematis intertwined, so I'm not sure which flower is which here. Polish Spirit and Jackmanni Superba are both possibilities.

Last year's snapdragons survived our mild winter, and are ready to bloom again. I had never grown the tall snaps before, and was pleased to no end to find out how well they bloomed all season long. So I am very happy to find that they survived and are ready to bloom once more.

I found one last peek out in the garden after dinner. The coral bells are blooming out front, so I hope to see the hummingbirds returning soon to enjoy them.

Okay, that's all the peeking I can do today. Off I go once more. Someday soon, I'll be able to get out and really enjoy the garden. Bye!