We’ve flipped the calendar page to July, and the summer portion of the growing season is well on its way. The days are getting hotter, the hummingbirds are busily zooming around the pollinator garden, and I spotted my first fireflies in twilight. Summer has officially arrived. At the beginning of each month during the growing season, I like to take a look back at what was growing on the farm the previous month—a farm recap of sorts. So, today it’s June’s turn.
In early June, we saw the last of the spring blooms, such as ranunculus, baptisia, and peonies. It was sad seeing them go, but when these began to fade, other flowers stepped into the spotlight. The feverfew started blooming and was simply stunning. I adore the dainty, mini daisy-like flowers of the single variety. Our dianthus also started to bloom in June, and by the end of the month, our Veronica came into bloom. I adore the Skyler series of Veronica and grow the white, pink, and blue varieties. All three brought drama and interest to arrangements. Other flowers that made an appearance this past month included yarrow, larkspur, 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. We also harvested the last of our lettuce and peas and planted cucumbers and beans in their place. I can’t wait to taste these homegrown vegetables later in the season. There are few things as enjoyable to me as eating fresh vegetables from the garden in the summer.
The first of our Whistling Bee blueberries, early-season varieties Duke, Reka, and Earliblue, ripened in late June! It was wonderful having fresh berries on the farm again. Our small patch has endured quite a few challenges this season between weather extremes (late frost, drought, and 100+ degree temperatures) and relentless wildlife pressure. The squirrels and chipmunks have outsmarted our netting and have been constant visitors, stuffing their cheeks with juicy fruit. We’ve also had some crop loss from the drought and heat, so between the weather and the wildlife, I am celebrating any berries that make it into the house.
Over in the dahlia seedling patch, groundhogs broke through our double fence and devoured all of our seedlings. It was heartbreaking. I’d been taking care of these seedlings for months, and some of them were from seeds I had crossed myself. I was so excited to see them bloom. Time will tell if they can recover. Over the past few years, extreme weather and hungry wildlife have definitely posed big challenges.
But despite these challenges, we celebrated some significant dates in June. Pollinator Week, an annual, internationally recognized celebration dedicated to raising awareness about the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystem, ran from June 22nd through the 28th. We celebrated by sharing photographs and fun facts about our local pollinator population all week on our social media accounts, spreading the word about the importance of these incredible creatures.
We also celebrated Whistling Bee Farm’s fifth year in business! I can’t believe it’s been five years since we started this flower-farming adventure. It’s been such a rewarding experience, and I’ve learned so much over those years.
I also found time to work in the flower studio creating some arrangements in June, which made me so happy. I’ve been proud of myself for keeping the promise I made to spend more time arranging this season. I love playing with fresh flowers and exploring different color palettes while letting my creativity flow(er).
Of course, the most exciting event in June was buying our new farm, news we recently shared in another post. We are so excited to start this new chapter in our lives and can’t wait to get started on this incredible adventure. I’ll share updates each month as the project progresses.
That’s what was growing on our farm in June; what was growing in your garden?
THISTLE BE THE DAY 