June was interesting this year. It was cold. And wet. Mosiac Virus was popping up on people’s gardens across the western half of the state. I had many people sending me messages asking me what was wrong with their plants.
The main crop of June was bush peas. From the first of the month to the last week, we harvested many. They did well in the cooler weather with no bug issues this year.
We visited a friend’s homestead and got to hold baby piglets.
I loved their method of growing potatoes. Simple! Boxes that will decompose into the ground. Pretty genius really.
Speaking of potatoes, our compost pile is home to a massive crop of potatoes this year. They are growing strong.
Variegated Elderberry in flower. The tree is now at least 12 feet high, if not taller. It has taken off the past 2 years.
Daisies growing wild.
Garlic growing in the second field. I am mostly ignoring it, to see how it grows here. The only thing we do is water it when I remember (it’s not on a timed system yet) and we cut the garlic scapes off this month.
The Marshmallow bush. I planted this one in 2019 I think. It grows to at least 12 feet high annually, flowers, then dies back. As long as I water it heavily, it is happy.
Sage in flower.
First of the white strawberries.
Early June strawberries.
Nootka Roses in bloom. The hedgerow I planted of them has taken off this year, into a dense wall.
Garlic growing. With lots of weeds. But I don’t care. I just pull the invasive ones.
Just a reminder of crazy prices. $7 for rhubarb?? Yeah. No.
Artichoke from a second year plant.
We ate Bok Choy all June. It tends to get bitter and bolts to seed after June. So eat early!
Celery growing, with random potatoes growing up.
First of the tomatoes starting.
Potato flowers in another area.
White Sage is all that is left in the greenhouse for the summer, where it thrives in the dry heat.
This year I have come to the realization I want to live with messy versus perfection. So my rhubarb and herbs outside the fence are choked slightly with grasses? That is OK. It isn’t harming anything. It keeps moisture in. I’d rather the land produces well, than have it look perfect. I don’t have a helper to weed all day, and I have more to do than that. This is the orchard from the back, fenced to keep out the deer. It was the chicken run for a couple of years, but I moved them. As we work on it, I am going to add more trees and permanent plants such as Currant and Bay Laurel this summer.
And as June ended, the heat of July showed up on time…bringing promises of growth.
~Sarah