The GGW contest for rose photos has announced the winners, and they are truly beautiful shots of a flower that is so beloved that there are millions of photographs taken of it, in all its glory and variation. Sample a few.
No, I didn’t win anything… but I gained more than enough from the inspiration provided. Thanks to Debra Lee Baldwin for all her hard work.
As June ends so does the rose season. It is time for me to fertilize the hardworking plants. There were more disease problems, but less Japanese beetles (so far!).
Harvest time has started, and I cut the broccoli heads. The first thing I made was a chicken broccoli bake- I’ll include the recipe of sorts at the end of this post. I hoed the vegetable garden and we weeded both the back garden and the garage one- which was supposed to turn into a cutting garden, but I needed extra space for the tomato and pepper plants. Now I am ready to put in more plantings. I have a decorative squash and I believe there is time to plant, yet. Also, I think I will put in some beans, although it has been many a year since I grew them. This year just seems good for beans, since it is so hot and all.
The Shirley poppies have put on a lovely show, and the heat is now making them look a little ragged, they will soon be pulled out. The star of this years garden is the Annabelle hydrangea. The blooms are as obscenely large and voluptuous as they can possibly be. The Mae West of the garden.
I’ve been busy writing articles for my garden website, which is something that I’ve had on the back burner for some time. I hope I have structured the site right for all the individual plants I want to write about.
So that, and mowing, is the summary of the month. What is new in your garden? Or what do you have planned for July?
Tags: roses in June, chicken broccoli bake
johanna_lea says
June 29, 2009 at 11:49 amgreetings from the coolness of the
cow water trough (my “pool”)
i have become a pre-dawn gardener of sorts…watering watering and watering! days here are upper 90’s.
nights in mid 70’s. no rain….
everbody is in full wilt by 4
PM. it’s too late for summer
garden here,i am mostly growing in containers.it’s surprising how
green beans produce in 3 gallon pots! hope to have tiller repaired and ready for fall garden.
in this climate. all is possible up until late november.
best greetings my friend!
vty j-lea
Rob (ourfrenchgarden) says
June 29, 2009 at 9:59 pmHi Ilona
I love to hear the success and failures over in your neck of the woods.
I’ve been battling with the weather. Western Europe is in something of a heatwave. It’s forecast to 37C degrees by Weds, about a 100F.
Ilona says
June 30, 2009 at 4:02 pmI am mostly growing my flowering annuals in containers- I’m pretty happy with how the veggie garden is this year. We get a cool break here- and I hope to get some more weeding done, now. Glad you have your water trough- I am surprised how much such a dip can revive you and how much unrelenting heat and humidity can deplete!
Greeting to you- apologies for no emails of late, my eyes have bothered me more than usual. Love you and thanks for sensing me stuff- I’ll try to take pics of the results of the iris, etc.
I have a back log of photos and all to to send you. Will do my usual obsessive giant catch up soon.
Ilona says
June 30, 2009 at 4:07 pmOh Rob, you have my sincerest sympathy. That type of weather can be devastating if it goes on. Ont thing I love for heat waves like that is to rig up a mister to walk through. It gives a light mist of water sifting down from the top of an arbor or archway. Instant refreshment.
Mulch, soaker hoses, etc. are the gardener’s best friends at these times. 🙂
John at JWLW says
July 1, 2009 at 1:24 amHI Ilona
Sound’s like you are in limbo right now waiting for a break from Mother Nature. We are being rained upon regularly to the extent of to much.
Plants are real hardy from the cool wet weather and when we do get a few hours of sunshine they grow like crazy or burst into bloom.
Have not been successful in completely mowing and trimming the yard yet this year. Get some done then the rain comes and its to wet. Next time sun comes out long enough to dry things so I can mow or trim I have to start with the tallest places and hope I can catch up.
That’s enough of that stuff, have a great day tomorrow,
John
TC says
July 1, 2009 at 4:19 pmIf the rose photo you have posted was entered, it should’ve gotten at least an honorable mention. That’s a great angle.
Our roses have done exceptionally well, especially our fairie rose. Hundreds of gorgeous little pink blooms. I’ve had some in a vase here next to my computer for over a week and they still look as fresh as the day I cut them.
Lettuce and onions in the veggie garden have produced enormously for us. Still waitin on the other stuff to ripen.
Ilona says
July 1, 2009 at 5:46 pmThanks, TC. No, I didn’t enter that one because of the slight blemish on the petal. I envy your fairy rose! always wanted one of those.
John- you have a great day, too 🙂 There’s worse thing than an unkempt lawn, and hope the wetness doesn’t give you any other grief, although I know it can.
I put in some things that had been nagging me in the back of my mind. Felt so much better after that. I think I should have been born a “Lady” and had a bevy of gardeners to do my work for me… whilst I sallied about my garden pointing out the best aspect for a shrub or flower;)
johanna_lea says
July 2, 2009 at 3:21 pmthat would have been my grandmother!
all her many varied garden spots were
amazing, weed-free, irrigated,
beautifully designed, and all
cared for by cheap labor!
Ga. in the 50’s…
i could get into that %)
your pal, j.