Rewind
June rain and cool weather gave way to heat and longer stretches of dry weather this month. The plants responded by growing quickly — the tomato plant dangles with small red fruit. Dahlia blossoms emerge on thick green stalks. Herbs grow wildly in the kitchen garden. If I had to choose a flower having a banner growing season, I’d probably single out the hydrangeas. I’ve harvested and designed several bouquets this month utilizing their robust, healthy blossoms. If you read my last photo essay, you’ll know that my basil struggled in June with wet, cool weather. They’ve rebounded like true champions in the July heat. I now dead head the blossoms every morning and place them in my ice water for extra summertime flavor.
Every July, we visit a local strawberry farm and pick pounds of fresh berries for use in desserts, smoothies, and snacks. This year we harvested over 5 lbs, most of which I froze for winter recipes. There is nothing like eating a freshly picked strawberry — its texture is so soft and its flavor is so sweet.
My favorite bouquets to build use lots of color, textures, and heights. When I run out of flowers to harvest, I turn to plant leaves, like peonies, to fill out flower arrangements.
I grew jalapeño peppers for the first time last summer, and I fell in love with how easy they were to cultivate and how tasty there were to consume. I tried growing them from seed this year, but the seedlings failed to thrive when transplanted in the garden. When I found jalapeño peppers for sale at the local technical college’s annual plant sale, it didn’t take me any time to add them to my cart.
Brown-eyed Susans are flowering early this summer. I usually harvest them in August, but I noticed blossoms emerging the first week of July. I’m not complaining.
I purchased a pink hydrangea (variety unknown) several years ago on a road trip up to visit my grandmother, who at the time was over 100 years old. My grandmother’s flower garden made a huge impression on me as a child, and I credit her and my mother for instilling my passion for gardening. My grandmother is no longer alive, but harvesting blossoms from this bush makes me think about my trip to visit her, which was one of the last times we visited.
Queen Anne’s lace is aggressive and demonstrative; it will take over a garden. I can’t help myself, though, because they are so beautiful, so stoic. I will gladly spend my days removing rogue Queen Anne’s lace if it means I can enjoy simple bouquets like this all summer long.
See a photo you like? Purchase photography in my online shop. I love hearing your garden stories, so leave me a comment and tell me a story about your own gardening adventures. See you at the end of the month.
-Betsy
Lovely bouquets! I ‘m afraid my gardening pretty much consists of sentimental flowers: Tiger Lillie’s that were given to me by our dear neighbor, Laura, at the lake; peonies given to me by next door neighbor, Joan; single Peonies that my father grew; Bleeding hearts that Amanda gave me years ago; and a beautiful fern that was given to me by a childhood through life friend. We have planted Hydrangeas that produce beautiful, lacy blossoms which I love. Otherwise, it’s Hostas all over!