The Heat is On Maybe

Heliopsis

 The first three weeks of June brought constant cool, cloudy weather and rain.  I don't ever remember it being this cool through the first three weeks of June in this area. Now we are suddenly thrust into the high 90's because of  the heat dome that is covering much of the country. Yesterday we got up to 101, with lower humidity than normal for this area. Almost feels like Phoenix.   We had three days without rain, and now today the rain is back.  We are certainly out of the drought we have been in for the first part of the year.

Monarda

There are three monarda or bee balm plants in one of the gardens, but only one bloom so far.  I started this new post yesterday, and the weather has changed drastically. Today clouds, drizzle and rain with temps in the 60's!  I wish the weather would settle and stay warm and sunny.

Wild Strawberry

There are several wild strawberry plants that have been growing in the large back garden for a few weeks now.

Russian sage

 Several Russian sage bushes in a grouping in the back yard are just starting to bloom.

Iris

I found one lone iris blooming in the back yard after all the others have already bloomed.

Pansies

These pansies I planted in one of my deck pots last year.  It sat through the cold and snows of winter, and the pansies slowly came back this spring. I have left these pansies to see how long they would last. Since it has been so cool and rainy in May and June they are still hanging on. Even through the three 90 to 101 days we just had.  Overall, I think the gardens look somewhat anemic this year possibly because of the unusually cool, wet May and June we have had.

Summer is Coming

Astilbe

 This last week has been unusually cold and rainy, like most of May. It was still in the 40's at night  three times this week with the heat still coming on yesterday, June 2, at night.  I don't ever remember it being this cold this late. But the weather forecast promises summer is coming tomorrow with temps in the high 80's. We are getting wildfire haze from Canada that is going to block some of the sunshine. The astilbe under the trees in the side yard have just bloomed.

 

Salvia

I have three salvia plants that bloomed right on time in mid May.

Red Hot Poker

There are three of these plants in the garden, but only one has bloomed last week.  I don't see any bloom stalks on the other two.

Greater Burdock

This was a surprise!  I found it under the trees in the backyard about a week ago. I have not been in the backyard for a couple of weeks because of the constant rain. I've never seen it in the yard, and the seeds must have been dropped by animals.

 

Wax Leaf Privet

There are several wax leaf privet bushes that line the back of the house, and they are full of white flowers.

Miniature Roses

In an area where the deer never roam, I have planted miniature roses that I got from the grocery store. I got them to have some flowers in the kitchen in the early spring, and planted them last year when they finished blooming. There is a yellow rose plant next to this one that is just about ready to bloom.