Report From An Opinionated Gardener – June 9
As I walked around the gardens at Poison Ivy Acres today I felt positively drunk on the season. Whether your thumbs are green or black, you have to admit that June is an amazing month. It’s no wonder that people decide to get married at this time of year: the entire landscape celebrates profusion and new growth.
Not only is the foliage lush and full, but there seem to be flowering plants everywhere you turn. These are not the brave, tentative, sparse blooms of spring. Oh no. June flowers abundantly, boldly, and without hesitation.
Gardeners not only appreciate this wealth of foliage and flowers, but the ability to plant with confidence as well. In most parts of the country you can still be putting annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and vegetables in the ground with every expectation that they’ll have the next four months to mature.
I’m still filling containers, planting annuals and yes, sowing seeds. Yesterday I spent an hour weeding and was in heaven, sitting in the shade, culling out unwanted plants and appreciating the new growth on desired varieties. To be surrounded by such possibility and promise is a gift.
Yes, problems will arise as my plants grow. There will be weather that’s too hot or overly wet. Even now insects are hatching, munching waiting for my seedlings to appear.
I don’t care. One walk through a June garden leaves me intoxicated on color, risk and likely development.
From the Weigela rubidor in the foreground to the Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' and the purple-leaved 'Summer Wine' Wigela, there are many options for the yard and grden.
