A look back at June in the garden

End_of_June_Scottish_garden_flower-bed — Everything in the garden is blooming. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. It’s been a very different June this year here in central Scotland. Having had a very warm May with little significant rain, the first 3 weeks of June followed along the same lines. Subsequently, many of the flowers that are usually around for at least a couple of weeks have bloomed early and only lasted a few days in the heat and drought. The weather has broken now, but it has left me wondering what the garden will look like in July and August with so many favourites having bloomed early.

Lilac_Allium_June_2023 — Early June Allium. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Back at the beginning of the month, the Alliums were blooming proudly and looked striking with their tall long stems and intricate star-shaped flower heads. Usually, June is all about Lupins and foxgloves. This year they began flowering in May, and sadly by the middle of the month, they had faded and dried, and the few second flowers also came and went. The foxgloves still have a few flowers at the top of their very long stems, and the bees are still managing to collect pollen from the bell-shaped blooms that remain.

Pink_and_white_lupins_under_a_blue_sky — Purple, orange, pink and white lupins earlier in the month. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Early_June_foxglove_and_Persicaria_bistorta_with_bees — Flowers and bees in early June. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I think the biggest mark of difference in the garden this summer, are the geraniums and day lilies. Both usually provide colour into July, but all the geranium petals have fallen, and only a very few day lilies are left to flower.

Midsummer_geraniums_and_day_lilies — Midsummer blue and gold. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

So here we are at the end of the month. There are still a few peonies in bloom providing rich colour and delicious fragrance, and the old rose bush (which hasn’t failed yet) is looking and smelling wonderful at the moment.

Mid_June_deep_pink_Peonies — Mid June Peonies. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

End_of_June_old_rose_bush_in_full_bloom — Bloomin’ marvellous. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’ve started harvesting produce from the greenhouse. The baby cucumbers I’m growing were about 3cm long at the beginning of June, and this week, I picked the first couple of fully formed fruit. In the shady parts of the garden, the wild strawberries have done well again this year.

First_baby_cucumber_ripe_and_ready — First pickings. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

End_of_June_wild_strawberry_harvest_2023 — June 2023 wild strawberry harvest. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

At ground level, these two Dianthus varieties are my favourite plants in the garden at the moment. If I keep removing the spent heads, I am hoping that new buds will keep forming and that there will be flowers for a couple more weeks yet.

End_of_June_Dianthus_flowers — Lilac and pink Dianthus. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’m closing my post with a flower that’s just opened up this week. The first of many (I hope) Japanese Anemones in the garden. This one’s about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. And that’s me, until next time, have a great few days and thanks for stopping by 🙂