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10 June Favorites

Magnolia 'Kay Parris' With so much going on in the garden in June, it is hard to choose only ten favorites. I challenged myself and have done just that. These are plants that look good around the midway point in June, specifically from June 15-20.  I begin with Magnolia 'Kay Parris'. Believe it or not, having spent the majority of my life in the South, I never grew a magnolia. They are emblematic of the South, where magnificent specimens grace old plantation homes and stately homes in older neighborhoods. I always thought of magnolias as huge trees, not suited to a small garden, but things have changed, and more varieties are now available that are not supposed to grow as large.  We now have two magnolias in our garden, both of which were added recently. When one of the old photinias that line our back property line died, it left a gaping hole. I had been looking at magnolias at the nursery and decided a smaller one might make a good backdrop and create a good privacy s...

Finally - a good weather statistic

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra 'Gold Heart')


Weather is in the news a lot these days and it always seems to be for the wrong reasons. Just the past year has seen records in temperatures (last summer), diminished rainfall (most months) and late snowfall (this month). But now, a statistic to cheer about - the month of April has seen a record amount of rainfall. Recordings at PDX show that we got a total of 5.37 inches. One year ago (April 2021) was the driest on record at .37 inch. 

The rain is welcome although the weather hasn't been conducive to working in the garden. In addition to the wet weather, it has been really cool and night temperatures are still dipping into the 40s. I'm sure vegetable gardeners are having a frustrating time.

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

Camassia leichtlinii

Daphne cneorum (Rock Daphne)



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. It appears that your garden is responding to all the rain. I am happy for you. We have had a decent spring too. The wind has been annoying but it has been cool and wet enough here too.

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  2. Congratulations! I love the Camassia, which isn't something that will grow in my part of the country.

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  3. We've had a cool rainy spring too, but it's too early here for annuals. But soon!

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  4. We’ve had a cool wet spring too, but we aren’t quite ready to plant annuals. But soon!

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  5. The chartreuse of the bleeding heart is shining in the shady garden like no other. What a sight! Brunnera 'Jack Frost' is an old favorite; I've moved volunteers into other places in the garden: I could ever tire of this plant.

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  6. Wonderful news on rain for your region. Happy for you. Maybe next year for us...

    The Camassia leichtlinii is gorgeous! "moist soil" means not for "SoCal". 😒

    Do you grow any Martagon Lilies?

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