The Garden (Jungle!) On This Summer Solstice

Like much of the country, we have had rain, rain, and more rain! 

It's better than drought conditions, for sure.....and the gardens appreciate it. 

But plants cannot thrive on water alone, they also need warmth and sunshine, as do we. 

The Perennial Bed is an absolute jungle....I can't even see my stepping stones to get in there and rip out that darned Bindweed, and the dreaded Tansy.  I'm going to have to suit up and brave the creepy crawlies this weekend and try to tame this beast....it makes me cringe to look at it right now. 

But there's beauty amidst the chaos....I moved this Cranesbill from the Wild Garden this spring....it was far too tall for the Wild Garden, but it's perfect in the Perennial Bed.  The higher plants surrounding it give it the support it needs so it's not flopping all over the place. It's just lovely! 

There's a good bit of that fuchsia color going on in my garden right now....and it's most welcome. This is a terrific plant, called Lamium....also known as Dead Nettle - if you don't have any, you may want to think about it - it's a fantastic ground cover, without being invasive. The leaves are lovely all on their own, but when it flowers it's a thing of beauty! 

I have patches of it throughout my garden, and a good bit on The Garden Steps. It's easy to propagate - just yank out a piece and stick it in the soil in another garden and give it a bit of water....9 times out of ten it will take off without much more fuss needed. I love, love, love this plant! 

The Garden Steps are in dire need of weeding and taming.....yes, yes, it's on my very long list of things to do. Sigh. Where's that clone? 

Also blooming in the Perennial Bed right now is this lovely white lacy flower....I have no idea what it is, and every year I ask for your help....but nobody has been able to identify it yet. It may be a weed, but if it is I don't mind as it's lovely and doesn't invade the garden. 

I've done image searches online trying to figure out what it is, to no avail. It's not Queen Anne's Lace - that blooms later in the summer. It's not Poison Hemlock, as someone suggested (whew!) and I haven't come up with anything else it may be. Anyway, whatever it is, I'm always glad to see those lacy white flowers bobbing above the foliage in the perennial bed in early summer. 

The veggie garden is starting to take off, and like everyplace else on my property, it needs a serious weeding right now. We've had our first salad out of the garden, and those early lettuce leaves are so tender....plus our radishes this year are the best ever! 

I admit, I'm not a big fan of radishes.....at least, I never have been. I always found them a bit too pungent for my taste....sour and peppery and just nothing to write home about.

But these have changed my opinion! We were slicing them while I was making the salad and just eating them as a snack with a sprinkle of sea salt.....heavenly! Yes, there's that distinctive peppery radish taste....but none of the bitterness. 

I think I finally understand what all the fuss is about. Apparently some folks like to eat radishes on a piece of bread with butter and salt....that's on my list to try now.

Outside the veggie garden, the critters have finally allowed some of my Sunflowers to grow this year. They are starting to form flowers, and I can't wait to see those bright spots of sunshine greeting me in the garden each morning. I've tried every year to grow Sunflowers,  but the darned critters always eat them as a snack as soon as I plant them out.

Speaking of critters, the slugs and snails have been ridiculous this year. They are in every garden, munching on every leaf. My go-to product for slugs is Sluggo Plus, which is safe for organic gardening.  I'd prefer not to have to put anything down, but some seasons it can't be helped. 

I saw more toads than ever in my garden this year, which makes sense as apparently they eat slugs and snails....I wish they'd get busy eating!

Papa's Garden is coming along nicely....I added a climbing rose - New Dawn - in the corner the other day. That's always fun....digging a hole anywhere on my property is a nightmare. I pulled out giant rock after giant rock, and had to take multiple breaks. But it's done, and hopefully the rose will thrive in that corner. 

The window box is stunning, with the Pansies I started in the spring showing off in a big way. They share space with Lobelia, which I adore, and white Impatiens, which are slow to get going this year. 

In the Front Garden, the Hydrangea Bed has filled in, and the Japanese Maple is gorgeous, as always. The grass needs to be mowed and weed-wacked desperately, but the weather has not been agreeable. Fingers crossed things are dry enough to mow this weekend, and Bee and I don't get stuck in the mud again. 

On the Garden Wall, the only thing in bloom at the moment is this gorgeous Dianthus...sadly, I planted three of these and only one seems to have made it. But this one is making up for it with an incredible bloom this year. 

The weeds are beyond ridiculous this season, sprouting up everywhere. Every crack in my patio has weeds popping up....I bought two gallons of white vinegar to put in my garden sprayer to take care of them. However, I need a good sunny day to get that project done....there can't be any rain in the forecast, or it won't work. 

The only ones I won't touch are the Violas that are popping up....they are always welcome to stay, I love their vibrant purple flowers.

This lovely white Geranium greets me when I get home every day....it overwintered beautifully, and came through stronger than ever. Even the drowning rains aren't bothering it, as it's under the overhang and sheltered. 

Back up on the deck, this is the corner I see first thing when I come out my door in the mornings. Many of the plants I started from seed and have yet to bloom, but when they do this corner will be vibrant with color, and heavily scented in the evenings. 

That will be a lovely welcome home, for sure. 

I have pots of scented flowering plants scattered throughout my deck. This is Nicotiana, surrounded by Petunias, all started from seed. When the Nicotiana blooms it will release the most beautiful scent in the evenings, so this pot is on one side of my swing, along with another pot of flowers. 

On the other side of my swing is this little grouping of pots. The Petunias release the most wonderful musky perfume in the evenings....not all colors are fragrant, but the blue is heavily scented. White has nearly no scent. I think perhaps the deeper the color, the deeper the fragrance.

The spiky things you see are Lilies Abyssinian Gladiolus (Acidanthera) - this is my first time growing these, and the description says to lift them in fall, so I decided to just plant them in pots, so I can take them in before the first frost. I have no idea how long they will bloom for, and I can't wait to see those pretty white flowers, and smell their heavenly aroma.

The hanging baskets on the deck are thriving, despite the lack of sunshine...the Geraniums are getting ready to bloom which will add a splash of bright red to this pairing. 

Along the deck railing is this other grouping - when this comes into full bloom it will be glorious! More Nicotiana, Cosmos, Lilies, Petunias, Pansies, Lobelia, and Impatiens....the next garden update should be a lot more colorful. 

Meanwhile, see those sweet angels at the end of the deck....they are on critter patrol, and they are the best little watch-babies on the planet!! 

And when Miss Molly is tired and ready to go inside for a snuggle, she hops up on my leg to let me know. Mommy, pick me up....take me inside....I need a nap. 

What's happening in your garden? Are the weeds and slugs driving you mad?

Happy Summer Solstice, everyone! It's official....Summer has arrived!