As June winds down and the sultry days of summer start to move in, we sometimes miss the colors that early summer starts to display. We always pause to admire the first crocus and remark on the tulip, but sometimes June has us frantically weeding and not admiring the blooms. I decided to take a break and grab four of my perennial faves.
The three Whirling Butterflies that survived the horrible ice we had this winter have nearly doubled in size. Also known as Pink Fountain Gaura, these delicate, flowing flowers are probably my favorites. These full sun perennials bloom late spring until the first frost, and they need very little water. The stems are gorgeous in cut arrangements. They are only hardy to -20 F, so I'm not surprised that the two youngest in the bunch were victims of the very cold winter we had.
Another of my favorites, the Shasta daisies have burst into their first round of happy, delicate white circles. Shastas are perpetually cheerful and so easy to grow. If you have a friend who has some well-established, I'm sure they will be happy to divide them and help your garden along.
Not exactly a bloom, but still exciting all the same, the wineberries are just considering their berry stage. I get so excited when I see the red, fuzzy buds. If you've never had a wineberry, now is the time to consider them. They are delicious and can be used in so many ways. They are very hardy (if not a little invasive) and make great pies.
The last sign of early summer for me is the emergence of my Stella de Oro daylilies. These are the first flowers I planted when we moved into our home because I wanted something easy that would grow in the poor soil next to the front walk. Once they got established, I have pretty much ignored them and let them do as they will. Except for the occasional watering I give them if we get a severe drought, they do well relying on rain water. What are your favorite June blooms? Is there one particular flower that spells summer for you?
