The heat and humidity have set in and have been brutal, and pests and disease have reared their ugly heads, yet, nearby, rows of flowers bloom beautifully. Such is the roller coaster ride of being a grower dependent on the mercy of Mother Nature. The weather is making it abundantly clear that summer has arrived, and I have been busy trying to keep up with the farm chores. Recent rain and humidity are the perfect conditions for weeds to grow, and at times, I question whether I am tending a flower farm or a crab grass farm. Indeed, I have been busy, and here it is, early July, and I have been remiss in recapping what was growing on in the gardens in June. So, let’s remedy that by looking back at what was happening on the farm last month.
In early June, we saw the last of the spring blooms, such as ranunculus and peonies. The beautiful, pillowy flowers of the peonies sadly came to an end, and I was sad to see them go. Our younger plants in the newest peony bed turned three this year, and we were finally able to harvest some of their flowers. It was lovely to harvest stems from multiple varieties in shades from pink and white to yellow and deep red. And one of our favorite varieties, Candystripe, delighted everyone with its magenta striped petals.
When the peonies began to fade, other flowers stepped into the spotlight. Our bearded and Siberian irises put on a beautiful show this year and added a stately touch to any bouquet. The feverfew started blooming in tandem and was simply stunning. Planted last season and overwintered, these second-season plants were prolific this year. I adore the dainty, mini daisy-like flowers of the single variety, and they brought some whimsy to each bouquet they were in.
Our dianthus also started to bloom in June. Its multicolored flowers filled our June bouquets and added a bit of spring magic. By late June, our Veronica came into bloom. I adore the Skyler series of Veronica and, after growing the white variety for two seasons, added the pink and blue varieties last fall. It was lovely to see all of the colors blooming next to one another this season! And, it turns out, that I adore these two new colors just as much as the Skyler white variety. All three brought drama and interest to our bouquets. Other flowers that made an appearance this past month included yarrow, larkspur, poppies, phlox, and daisies.
In the edible gardens, we harvested our garlic scapes in mid-June. They added a delicious garlicky component to stir-fry meals or stood on their own in pesto. And, the first of our Whistling Bee blueberries, early-season varieties Duke, Reka, and Earliblue, ripened in late June! Duke, in particular, is one of our all-time favorite varieties. It’s known for its firm, crisp texture and sweet, tangy flavor. These berries are excellent when eaten fresh or frozen for future enjoyment. Blueberries are not only my favorite fruit but also my favorite edible to grow (sorry, tomatoes and peppers, you’re a close second). So, you can imagine my excitement at harvest time!
With our blueberry harvest underway, we began our Berries & Blooms CSA at the end of June. It was lovely to share our blueberries and blooms with our community. Sharing my passion for growing and spreading joy along the way has always been the best part of our mission.
While June had many highlights, it also had its struggles. Climate change continues to have a detrimental effect on our growing season. With the high humidity and abundant rain, we’ve seen a surge in pest and disease pressure. Powdery mildew has been spotted in our peony patch, and the first spotted lanternfly nymphs have been found among the flowers. Wildlife pressure has also been rampant as squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, rabbits, and catbirds all nibble and sample our plants. We’ve lost several crops of lettuce, and, despite the netting, many blueberries to these crafty creatures. The most devastating was an entire crop of single-stem sunflowers chewed to the ground by an unknown nighttime visitor who punched a hole through our fence.
An extreme heatwave with several days in a row at 100-degree temperatures caused more damage, especially in our blueberry patch. The extreme heat burned the leaves of our bushes and left many of the ripening berries sunburned. The irreversible damage resulted in crop loss and permanent damage to our bushes. The bushes were already yielding fewer berries than in previous seasons due to our prolonged and frigid winter.
But, despite all the challenges, I’ve tried to remain optimistic. Even though many of our annuals are behind schedule, I’m trying to embrace nature at its own pace. Which, honestly, is not always easy.
June, of course, is also the month for Father’s Day and graduation season. So, many Whistling Bee bouquets brought joy to these occasions. This graduation season was particularly special for me as our son graduated from high school. It was a bittersweet occasion filled with so many emotions, but it was joyful and celebratory and filled with excitement for what the future holds.
Lastly, I treated myself to a flower arranging workshop at the end of June. Flower arranging provides me a creative outlet that combines my love of art and flowers. I view arrangements as pieces of living art. When I’m creating, I find a sense of peace and calm that often eludes me during the hustle and bustle of everyday life. So, I made it a goal of mine to take the time to create more arrangements and learn new skills to improve my work. This was the first of several workshops and classes I plan to take on arranging. I loved working with flowers that I don’t usually grow on my farm, such as roses and lilies. I enjoyed the challenge of the monochromatic and asymmetrical look of the arrangement I created.
So, yes, June was full of challenges and beauty, as most months are here on the farm. I try not to take any of it for granted and to learn from each difficulty. Mother Nature teaches many harsh and beautiful lessons. That’s what’s been growing on in our garden, what’s been growing on in yours?
THISTLE BE THE DAY 