Debs' June Garden Round Up

DEBORAH CROMBIE: We started our summer with a bang on Memorial Day. A huge storm in the early hours of the morning brought down two limbs on our old elm, one on the power lines, one on our very old and decrepit fence. We spent the day without power, ugh. The humidity was close to 100%!

If we had been on the fence (sorry, couldn't help myself there) about replacing our old fence, that certainly decided us. We now have 206 linear feet of brand new cedar fence, and it's a good thing I wasn't planning a trip to London because I wouldn't have been able to afford it! 

You'd better believe I admire that fence every time I step out the back door! In spite of the heat, the garden is a little oasis, a tiny bastion against the ills of the world, and I do my best to remind myself of it daily.

Every day there is something beautiful. This morning I went out to find a lovely surprise, the first bloom on our perennial star hibiscus. 

So pretty!

Things are in full bloom in the front as well, although I'm sad that the coneflowers will be finished soon. The nice thing about a perennial garden, however, is that that means something else will be coming along to add some brightness--in this case, black-eyed Susans, flame acanthus, and Turk's cap, all the things the hummingbirds adore, and all those will last until autumn, when the native asters will bloom.

That's my David Austin Heathcliff rose adding a splash of red in the center!

Photos never convey how pretty this is.

We've had more things going on in the back, too. We have struggled mightily with grass here over the years, mostly due to the roots of the big trees, but last year we replaced some of it with zoysia and it did really well, so this year we've put down more in a couple of bare spots. (This means I am out watering sod twice a day.)

This is the grass we put in last year (photo bombed by dog.)

Here's one new section. Fingers crossed it does well, too. That's the big elm with a gap now in its center, and you can admire part of the new fence!

It's been too windy to put up the patio umbrella, but the pots on the patio are so cheerful.

We have tomatoes. too.

And our fig tree is covered with baby green figs. I check it every day, hoping to beat the birds and squirrels to them when they begin to ripen.

I love our outdoor mantel.

And I love this view of one of the front perennial beds through the gate.

Thank you, dear Reds, for indulging me, but it's cheered me up just to write about the garden and share the photos. 

Where do you find little bits of joy in your day?