June makes me happy!

So, the ugly winter is far behind us now, and I think I won't bring it up anymore. But if I did bring it up, I'd say that the nasty winter made most things about a month behind in the garden. Normally, May is when everything is blooming, lovely, and nearly perfect. This year, it's June that makes me happy. I think everything is in bloom at once. And with the soft summer nights, it's the perfect time to sit outside after dinner and watch the bird parade. Naturally, robins are a personal favorite. 

American Robin

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Bluebird

House Sparrow

My containers are particularly lovely this year. Last year, I did a pot in shades of bright yellow and black, and that's what I was trying to duplicate here. But I accidentally bought a burgundy and yellow petunia instead of black and yellow, so I just went with it. 

 One thing I'm really enjoying is the opportunity to trial some plants for Proven Winners. I expected two or three plants, but I got a lot more than I bargained for. But what fun! Watch for these to come available to the general public in 2015. The annuals have been real winners so far. This is a Black Cherry Supertunia, and the deep, rich burgundy color is hard to catch on film. Trust me, it's gorgeous! And it is blooming like mad.

Black Cherry Supertunia

 Here's a fun one, it's Superbena Royale Cherryburst. It's like peppermint candy in flower form. Look for it next year!

Superbena Royale Cherryburst

This little one is Superbells Frostfire. It also blooms like crazy. I see why all three of these annuals are called Super-something. I've never seen such heavy blooms.And I am thrilled to be able to try these out for Proven Winners! I also have a few shrubs and perennials, but I'll feature them later in the summer after they grow up a bit.

 One thing that is really making me happy is how the roses are making a comeback. Winter was so rough on roses that I was convinced they wouldn't bloom at all. I'm so glad I was wrong! I did lose six different rose bushes, but I replaced them with even better varieties. Now the new ones may not have bloomed yet, but some of them are close. It's all very exciting for a rose lover.

Angelface-a lavender rose!

Zepherine Drouhin-thornless

Oranges and Lemons

Funny Face

Sunny Knockout-fragrant!

My herb garden is very enthusiastic this time of year. Here is chamomile in bloom with its charming little flowers, but if you look in the background, you'll see some mint reaching for the stars. Yes, I have the plant containers in pots sunk into the ground. But it's not helping. These are monster plants!

Chamomile with mint

If you know me, you know how much I like to use Sedum Angelina in my garden. Mostly I use it for the bright colors it turns in cool weather, but in summer it looks like this. I don't generally pay much attention to it's blooms, but this year they have blended with nearby blooms for a nice touch. Chartreuse green is the summer suit for it.

Sedum Angelina

After a slow start, the clematis lamp post looks better than ever! It has really been a bright spot as you pull in the drive.  

Polish Spirit and Jackmanii Supberba

 Because my garden is mostly bright and sunny, I tend to use a lot of drought resistant plants. Yarrow is a good one for me. This one is Apricot Delight. It's new and small, but I do like the way it coordinates with the terra cotta tiles.

Apricot Delight Yarrow

And you might think this one is more of a weed, but it's hard to beat for long lasting blooms. Moonshine Yarrow keeps these blooms for months without losing it's bright yellow color. And if you cut the flowers, they are great to use in dried flower arrangements.

Moonshine Yarrow

Does June make you happy, or would you rather enjoy a different month?

May Wrap-Up

It's hard to believe that June starts tomorrow. It took so long for the month of May to get rolling enough to  actually feel like spring, but now it's over already. Once it truly warmed up, it was a banner month. You see, even though the winter tried to knock us down, the spring rains tried to build us right back up. Despite the losses, the surviving plants look better than ever.

Chinese Fringe Tree

As with most gardeners, I have been hard at work this month. I can't believe how many plants I have put into the ground! Some were replacements for those done in by winter, and some were new perennials. But most of the hard work involved the summer annuals and vegetables. I don't really mind all the work, really. It would just be so much easier if I could neglect all my other obligations when this was going on.

Amsonia Hubrichtii

Amsonia Blue Ice

And even though I enjoy the work, that doesn't mean that I'm not exhausted! I work and I work, but I never seem to get done. Plant, prune, fertilize, deadhead, water, mulch, weed, and on and on it goes. Funny, but most avid gardeners seem to be from the older generations, like me. But for the energy it takes, you'd think it would be more for the younger folks.

Columbine Winky Double

Cornus kousa Heart Throb

 And before you think that I don't take time to enjoy the fruits of my labors, I need to clarify. Every evening after dinner, I go out to sit on the "veranda" and admire it all. My camera is always close at hand, in case I see something that begs to be captured.

Dragonwing begonia

Shade container with Reiger begonias and other fillers

Container with begonias, fiber optic grass, and other fillers

Still, it will be nice when summer wears on, and I don't have so much work staring me in the face all the time. That's when I do more fun projects like making garden art, or less fun projects like cleaning out my garden mess in the garage.

Yarrow Tutti Frutti Apricot Delight

Bearded iris Blue Suede Shoes or Best Bet

Allium Mediterranean Bells

May is usually the month of the roses, but not quite this year. I'm just happy some of them showed up at all, even though it was May 28 by the time the first one bloomed. This is about a month behind schedule. I'm just glad they are here at all.

Sunny Knockout Rose

Funny Face rose

Zepherine Drouhin rose

 

May also seems to be incredibly busy in the non garden world too. Graduations, proms, year end parties, Mother's Day, you name it, there's always a special occasion to celebrate. I say, let's celebrate the fact that it's time to garden again.

Moonshine Yarrow

Peony unknown

Celosia

Sunny container featuring Petunia Crazytunia Pulse

Glamoflauge Grape petunia

Violet tubeflower

So onward to June, may it be just as lovely as the fair month of May!

Heuchera Circus

Heuchera Coral bells

May, the Fairest of Them All

Every month has something to show in the garden. Even the winter months have interesting textures to show us. But I find May to be the fairest of them all.

Flowers bloom in earnest, the weather warms, and the garden grows.

 Excitement builds as vegetables are planted, containers are filled, and annuals go into beds.

Plants are generally green and fresh, and insect damage hasn't yet become a problem. You just have to love it! 

 The harsh, dry summer weather seems far away at this point.  It rains and rains, and everything is so green that it almost makes your eyes hurt. Maybe this will be a wet summer, it's hard to say at this point. But usually, the rains stop around June and from then on, it's a battle to keep things watered. 

 Now one of my usual favorite parts of May is when the roses begin to bloom. That first flush of blooms is always the finest. But the sad news is that our harsh winter really did a number on my rose garden, as it did in so many other areas. I'm not sure when I'll see any roses this year, if any. It's disappointing, but I'm trying to take it in stride. I've done a lot of tweaking to my rose garden, discarding the dead ones, and also those that are under performers. When my rose garden comes back to life, the theory is that it should look better than ever. In the mean time, here is what it looked like in years past.

Maybe one of the reasons that I like May so much is that it's my birthday month, and is followed quickly by Mother's Day. I can't say that I mind the attention. And it does tend to start out my favorite month with a bang.

I'm sure that others could make a strong case for their own favorites, but for me, it will be always be May, the fairest of them all.