June in the Garden

The garden is looking beautiful despite the heavy rain and winds. We had wisely staked most things.
We did need rain very much but as usual the weather overdid it.
The beans are coming along nicely; we should be picking our Crimson Flowered broad beans next week as baby beans to eat whole. The runners and French beans are climbing up the poles and the ground beans look good. There is no black fly on the broad beans so my Tagetes planted between the rows kept them away. The salad crops are very good but I have over catered as usual and everything has matured together. Time to plant more lettuce and salad leaves and radish.
For once the brassicas are free from caterpillars, so are growing well. The pigeons have attacked the spinach this year so the plot is decorated with bottles on sticks to try and deter them.
The strawberries are ‘on stream’ now and being shared with the female blackbirds of which we seem to have a population explosion.
In the greenhouse the tomato plants are about 3 feet high with flower and small unripe tomatoes. I planted Tagetes in here as well to deter the aphids so there is no white fly. The cucumbers are beginning to climb up too. I grow all female plants called La Diva, which are small and very prolific.
The clematis Montana has out grown the allotted space so it needs pruning but the blackbirds are still nesting in it so the pruning has been halted. Please try not to cut plants and shrubs back before late July so the birds can finish raising their families. The small box hedges can be pruned now; it is the ideal time for them. Looking around the garden the Iris sibirica are still flowering and have stood up well to the rain, the peonies are gorgeous, we staked these earlier. The roses are amazing but the rain has spoilt some. Unfortunately black spot has come back so I will spray for the last time. The Oriental poppies can be cut down when the blooms are finished; they are fleeting beauties and can’t stand the rain. You will get a flush of leaves but no more flowers.

Do enjoy your garden and share it with the wild life.

white siberica		white siberica
amsonia		white peony
allium		peony "bowl of beauty"

red rose		red rose
rose		peonies
blue siberica		peonies

Spetchley Gardening Club visited Blackmore gardens near Hanley Swan.
The gardens cover 15 acres and include large areas of maturing woodland.