Our summer has been filled with Little League Baseball which means it’s been a challenge to spend time in the garden. I’ve managed to get out first thing in the morning, before the games begin, and do some weeding and watering. I planted extra flower beds this year with cutting gardens so I can enjoy fresh flowers in the house all summer long. While those flowers are still maturing, I thought I’d show you what’s in my June garden.
On this particular morning when I went outside to weed, I noticed it had rained during the night and the flowers were spotted with raindrops. That’s my house in the background. Our garden is at the far edge of our yard where we get the most sunlight.
This is a Purple Jackmanii Clematis. I’ve had it for several years.
Clematis take a few years to mature, so if you want a profuse bloomer right away, it’s best to spend a little more money and buy a mature plant so you don’t have to wait as long. I look forward to this summer bloomer every year.
I think these Pink Magellan Zinnias might just be my favorite in this year’s cutting garden.
This is my first year growing this variety and I’ve fallen in love with it.
I also planted some Profusion Zinnias that are filling in quite nicely.
Here’s a bouquet of zinnias from last year’s garden. I love the vivid colors.
New this year are Celosia. I thought these would make a nice, spike-y accent in bouquets.
Stella likes to follow me out to the garden when I pull weeds.
I probably get most excited when the tomatoes make their appearance. I look forward to canning them again this year. Have you ever noticed the fragrance of tomato plants? I love being in the garden when you can smell them in the air.
I always like to try something new in the garden and this year, I chose broccoli! We’ve already eaten some of this and it tastes way better than any other broccoli I’ve eaten. I simply steam it and add just a teeny-tiny bit of butter.
I’ve got more in the garden … green beans, peppers, oregano, chocolate mint, basil, romaine lettuce, red leaf lettuce, arugula, yarrow (which you can see in the lower right of this photo), catmint, catnip … and other wildflowers that I sprinkled from seed but they’re not blooming yet. I’ll share more as the garden matures.
What do you have planted in your garden? Do you have any favorites that perform well for you? I’d love to know!
Wow- it looks so lush and beautiful! I am envious. I just returned from a trip out your way- starting in Chicago, then traveling to South Bend, IN, down to Louisville KY, and finally to Nashville, TN. I was struck by the green everywhere! Flowers, green grass, big, beautiful trees, and rivers and lakes. Being from drought stricken CA, we are not inspired lately to plant much, as we are supposed to cut back on our water use. I love to grow flowers and vegetables in containers during the summer, but am not sure if I will be able to this year (second in a row). Many people out here are letting their grass turn brown, and/or replacing large areas of their yards with rock or bark. Please keep us in your thoughts- we need rain so badly!
Wwwaaayyy past beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your gorgeous, well loved garden spaces. You’re inspiring 🙂
Such a pretty kitty! Your garden is lush and beautiful. Mine is suffering from all the heat.
Brenda
I am so jealous of your zinnias! I have no luck with them, but my calendula come up year after year. My clematis is already done blooming????. It was here when we moved in do I don’t know what kind it is. I am mainly a flower Gardner with tomatoes and green peppers thrown in. On a brighter note, after 3 years my baby’shower breath is finally doing beautifully. Your garden looks bountiful!