Oh How My June Garden Blooms!

I gasped when I noticed these flowers blooming!  I’ve tried growing Jack in the Pulpit (also called Cobra Lily) for close to ten years and now I have three blooming!

I’ve had Arisaema candidissimum and Arisaema sikokianum bloom then disappear.  These Jacks have leafed out each year but never bloomed.  I’m not sure which variety they are because I’ve tried so many, but I think they’re Arisaema heterophyllum.

Each is blooming in a different part of my garden – my test to see which is the best spot for them before I buy more.

I have yellow Pouch Flowers blooming!  Love these sweet pockets of color.  I still need to find the red variety.

My geum is at the tail end of its blooming cycle.  Another plant with a red variety I want!

My yellow tree peonie has two blooms this year, but the lavender variety hasn’t developed blooms yet.  I think I have it in the wrong place with not enough sun.  I’ve heard they don’t like being moved, so maybe I can limb up surrounding trees for it.

I love this red peony – blooms are covering the foliage this year.  My pink peonies are about to burst open.

As I wander my way through the garden I am serenaded by this sweet Sparrow and a plethera of other song birds.  By planting natural habitat for birds I’ve created a safe zone for them and a sanctuary for me.

I try to not disturb the chickadee bringing treats for her babes.

And I try to capture her in flight to no avail.  So far.

Our hummingbirds must be nesting because they’re no longer fighting over the feeders.

Ravens are back in full force, attacking my compost pile with gusto.

Alas, the cowbirds are also back!

Other critters I love to capture are butterflies.  I stopped using toxic poisons (weed and bug killers) in my garden more than a decade ago and love how these flying flowers have increased over the years.

I especially love when I can capture them in flight!  I grow a lot of plants that encourage them to stay in my Columbia River Gorge garden.

Read this link from Organic Gardening for more information about attracting butterflies to your garden.

Swallowtails are probably the largest butterfly I welcome back each year.

I am noticing many different types of bees pollinating my flowers, fruits and veggie plants.

As I pulled weeds and excess plants I gently moved ladybugs to new homes.

My Gas Plant is one I look forward to each year.

As is this Columbine.  I haven’t posted in so long, I fear I’ll bore you with too many photos, so will end here.

If you’d like an alternative to commercial weed killers, try this recipe, it works:  1 gallon apple cider vinegar, 1 cup salt, 1 teaspoon detergent.  Mix and spray on weeds.

Thanks for stopping by!