June Roses

David Austen's Bathsheba rose

I missed the first blush of roses when I was gone to Summer Snow doing art. June is the month for roses around here. I have lots of roses in my garden because this is the first time that I can grow roses without stress. Roses love it here and I don't have deer eating them, or mildew turning them black. I do have aphids though. Lots of aphids this year. I hose them off with water and pray for ladybugs to come for a visit. I tried orange essential oil water and sprayed it on them and that seemed to help and there are a few lady bugs too. The little yellow breasted virials come and eat a few too. Virials are as small as hummingbirds, with a sweet song. My town is a place they are found.

The first Saturday I was home from summer snow I dead headed the roses. We had a very hot few days and it crisped the petals up, baked to a soft brown. I took photos of the pile of dried roses and thought how beautiful and romantic they looked, a possible print in the future.

The hollyhocks are blooming too, just opening up. They are mostly pink. Dark and pale pink and there is one yellow with pink streaks. Some of the flower stocks are short just 24 inches tall and there are a couple that are a good 8 feet tall, reviling with the climbing roses.

First pink hollyhock

The pansies are being replaced with lantana and zinnias, both are happy in the summer sun. The cat mint has been cut back by half; the bees love the purple flowers. They will have another batch of flowers before long. Lilies are coming along next. Summertime here is such a rush of activity I just hate missing any of it.

Thank you for stopping by, see you soon.