"And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days."
~James Russell Lowell
I hope the month of June is bringing you some perfect days. Being a Florida gardener, it's pretty tough to choose a favorite month, but June is right up at the top for me. Winter is but a distant memory, daylight lasts forever, the rains have (finally) returned, and the skyline is dominated by a canopy of crape myrtles.
Oh, yeah! Those glorious, beautiful crape myrtles! That despised, naked tree of winter wins back our admiration in this month of June. What better time is there than the first bursting blooms of the crape myrtle? The golden thryallis is another stalwart that shines in summer. Crape myrtle and thryallis...one of my favorite Florida plant combos.
Is there any better way to erase winter's memory than to gaze upon gingers that have risen from winter sleep? Curcumas are always the last plants to break dormancy in my garden...even later than the caladiums. Oh, and do you see how giant the Giant Walking Iris has grown? I really like this combo. I need to copy it over under the pine trees at Six Acres.
And do you see that bloom rising from the Curcuma leaves? This is the very first bloom of the year on my Siam Tulips! What a glorious time! In a few weeks, the whole plant will be bursting with those elegant, pink-tinged torches.
The first bloom of Curcuma alismatifolia 'Pink' has risen as well. Kinda strange, as this is usually the last of my gingers to bloom.
And what a wonderful thing that the Giant Walking Iris is still blooming! It's been going for about three months now. How long do these bloom? I planted my first one in spring of 2010, but it didn't bloom at all last year, so I really didn't know what to expect. I certainly didn't expect this long of a bloom. No complaints here, for sure.
One sure sign of summer in this garden is the return of blues and purples, which are sorely lacking in winter here. Very nice to have blue to cool the eyes on these hot, hot days. I especially love this combo of blue porterweed and variegated arboricola. Admittedly, the blue porterweed seems to combine nicely with any and every plant form and color.
Of course, we still have our hot colors as well. One of my favorite summer showstoppers is the Gloriosa Lily. This one never fails to grab visitors' attention. I only wish it bloomed throughout winter. Oh, well, I might take it for granted if it did. It does bloom for a good 8 or 9 months, so I really shouldn't complain.
June is the last glorious month of the daylily. This is the last month we will really get a good show, though there will be a few stragglers in July and August.
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Wow, your June garden is looking so nice and full. I like that curcuma/iris combo too. While I'm copying your blue ginger/peace lily combo I'll add this one:) My curcuma zedoaria hasn't bloomed yet. Last year I think it bloomed in April! That was its first year to bloom so I was expecting the same. Maybe soon, I hope.
ReplyDeleteYour June garden is a real treat to eyes! Yes, blue porterweed looks nice with almost any plants. I recently just removed two old ones (they became big) to create space for my berlinda's dream rose. But I planted those volunteer seedlings somewhere else, an easy plant to grow.
ReplyDeleteI love that Curcumas and giant iris combo too. My giant iris is also still blooming, although I wish I have planted in a more noticable location like yours :)
I also just noticed first flower on my Siam Tulips that I bought last year. It is always amazing to see plants popping up underground after a long period of dormancy. It is still quite new thing to me though.
Oh, that Gloriosa Lily is definitely on my wish list!
Hi Floridagirl,
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see you back to blogging and to get a glimpse at your stunning June garden. Tell me. What conditions does the gloriosa prefer. My neighbor just gave me one and hers are in morning light (not long) and then very filtered light the rest of the day. They do very well for her in those conditions. This is a vine you don't mind I'm assuming???
Your circumas are always up and blooming long before mine which always mystifies me. Only because I wouldn't think our climates so different. Mine have emerged in the last couple of weeks but no where near flowering.
And yes, the crapes are beginning to droop with their enormous plumes.
My Reginas are still blooming randomly but nothing like a month (and more)ago. They may put out a random bloom here and there throughout summer... but not a flush like they do in spring.
June is glorious except for the humidity that just doesn't let up. We haven't gotten any rain (the last two showers missed us completely but were all around). So I'll be glad when I can say the summer rains have returned.
*rain dance*
Meems
NanaK: I remember your Curcuma blooming last April! That was super early. I have NEVER had a Curcuma bloom before the month of June. Typically, the leaves are just returning from dormancy in April in my garden. Very slow plants. When I share these with others, I always tell them to mark the spot well, and be patient for their return.
ReplyDelete@Ami: Yes, that blue porterweed *is* super easy. Some people even call it a weed. But it is my favorite weed, even though I seem to be pulling a TON of it this year.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely need some Gloriosa lilies! They have the coolest flower! Check for bulbs in winter in the big box stores. Sometimes HD has some good ones. Also, I have found a farm/feed store in my son's town that carries some great bulbs, though only in winter and spring. They sell gloriosa tubers for just a couple bucks...not that I would ever buy one...they're pretty much comin' out my ears here at PITV.
I have gloriosas blooming in all conditions LOL. They are in a dry, sandy spot in full sun, a moist spot back in the shady, north side, and a part-sun locale where they clamor up a pygmy date palm. They're pretty vigorous anywhere. I have a yellow/purple variety that is just stunning, but not as vigorous as the red. Yes, gloriosa is a vine, but not the sort to "take over the world." I've had mine for many years, and it has been easy to control.
ReplyDeleteAs for the curcumas, I would think you are in a warmer winter climate than I, simply because you're closer to the coast. Plus, I think you have a lot more tree canopy. I have curcumas planted all over the garden (it's so easy to divide the love). They are all growing in different conditions, and they seem to pop up and bloom at different times of the year. These were just the first two blooms. There will be many more to come.
Thanks for answering the question on the giant iris. I am so pleased that it will keep throwing off random blooms for a while. The foliage is handsome, but the blooms make it more interesting.
Wow, sorry you've missed all that rain. Hope it comes soon for you. We've had 3 inches in as many days. I've been watching Six Acres as well, and they've only gotten half as much there. That's a lot of acreage to have dried up, brown grass. Ugh. They have been able to water the acre surrounding the house, so the grass looks nice and green there.
Unfortunately for those of us close to the coast the winds keep blowing the clouds to the East. Last Wed. evening we got about 10 drops...and that is it for the month of June so far.
ReplyDeleteYour gloriosas are lovely! My curcumas are up, but no blooms yet. It is a lovely time of year with lots of flowers blooming.
What a great shot of your gloriosa lily. I've never grown this vine. Does it get large and does it disappear in the winter?
ReplyDeleteYour garden beds are looking so full and lush. That Regina iris is a real eye-grabber. By the way, you haven't done an update on six acres. What's going on there?
My siam tulips are just starting to bring. i really do enjoy them.