It's June

 

Sweet Pea 'April in Paris'

 

'April in Paris', June-Gloom in California.  I've got most of the Lupines off the slope.

Before:  

After: dried Lupines still to lug down (circled on left).  The circled plants on the right are Epilobium (Zauschneria) canum, California natives that flower in mid- to late summer and feed the Hummingbirds:

Removing the Lupines was several days of effort.  Lupines stuffed both green waste bins full last week, with one bin re-filled Saturday.  What remains is bagged and waiting to fill the other.  I let the clippings sit to dry out because that way more will fit into the bin.  

Natasha checks out the bags:

Boris isn't interested: 

We had a very hot day (94F/34C) followed by a pretty warm one (85F/29C).  A brief heatwave is not nearly so stressful for the garden as a sustained one.   We even had some June Gloom on Saturday, making for rich floral color in photos.  

Clematis 'Wisley'.  Rose 'Fourth of July' in the background: 

 

South African Erica:

'Yellow Bird' Leucospermum seedling with a gold Lantana. 

Enough yellow for you? 

I bought a six-pack of Hypoestes phyllostachya ("Polkadot Plant").  Having learned growing any six-pack sized plant to a larger size before planting out means better survival chances, I repotted them to quart sizes and temporarily arranged them in the patio corner.  The white-splattered foliage brightens the area.  Ferocious hot afternoon sun hammers just the front edge of the bed in late spring and early summer.  Positioned just out of reach of the sun, they have a good spot. 

The Broadiaea californica 'Babylon' bulbs planted in November 2023 have returned.  Lovely little plants, happy to see them re-appear.  They want moisture in winter and spring and dryness in summer, just what this small area provides. 

The area off the patio looks good at the moment.  The first flower heads are appearing on the Hydrangeas and there are several Agapanthus starting as well.  

First flower on 'Pruntucky Summer':

 Across the path from 'Pruntucky' is 'Queen Mum'.  I do not think of a hulking monster when hearing the name 'Queen Mum', but this variety is proving to be so.  I thought of moving it immediately, but it is undoubtedly best to move it this autumn, not just as it prepares to flower.  The flowers are huge, in proportion to the burly vigor of the plant.  It's crowding the beautiful Austin rose 'Silas Marner' as well as encroaching on the path, so it must move.  I have a place for it elsewhere.  

First flower from a Dahlia.  I bought some new tubers back in the autumn but they look like failures.  This is one planted in the ground last year after a weak first year in pots in 2023.  Stronger now:

I'm not so into Dahlias to buy from a specialty mail order grower at this moment, but it seems like the quality of packaged Dutch import Dahlias has plummeted in recent years.  Could be the garden centers are buying a lower grade, or have Dahlia growing conditions in Holland have been difficult? 

 

First flowers of the year from Clematis 'Polish Spirit': 

Clematis 'Perle d'Azur' is having an excellent year despite battling a rooted grape cutting (now a thriving plant)  for space and sun.  The Clematis expert I saw during the Chelsea Garden show TV coverage said Clematis like:  water, and to be with other plants--'Perle' apparently does:

Speaking of grapes, the original grape vine in the rodent-protected cage is thriving, too

Yummy fruit to come! 

 

Thriving a bit too much for the good of the tomato plants also in the cage.  I'm finding the pruning of grape vines a steep learning curve.  The grape is taking over in there.

 

Learning curve on where to place the unusually colored TB Iris 'Thorn Bird'--the black foliaged Leucadendron and the black foliaged Aeonium make good companions: 

There's 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea.  I put down acidifying soil sulfur late this year, but the newest flower heads are starting to blue up:

June Gloom loveliness from Hemerocallis, Leucanthemum, 'Rozanne'.  Sweet spot, sweet moment:

This floats my boat:

Here, June begins so lovely, so gentle, and ends usually with the beginning of brutal summer heat.  I'll relish the now.