Vegetables

I got very few veggies last year, but deer were not the problem. I had a deer enclosure built some years ago, and it lasted far beyond my expectations. But it had become an eyesore, so I pulled it down in the early spring. I ordered a crop cage from Gardener's Supply, which arrived promptly and sat in its box.

I turned over the bed, added three bags of LeafGro, and finally, finally, planted the vegetables on June 1. I have three tomato plants, two eggplants, and one pepper. Plus basil.

Bambi came by a week ago, and I hadn't built the new cage yet. It's not total devastation, but it is definitely a setback. Each plant (except the basil) was sampled.

I got motivated and put up the cage a couple days later. It looks good. I'm sure it's Bambi proof.

I don't think it'll keep Thumper out, but I don't think she'll be motivated enough to do a lot of damage.

Lilies!

The most spectacular part of the garden this year is a display of lilies. I bought bulbs last fall from White Flower Farm, their "Strawberries and Cream" mix. (Their named varieties are expensive, but their mixes are quite reasonably priced.)  Enjoy!

June Blooms

I suspect this is not everything, but it's a lot. In contrast to the early spring, most of this stuff are things I planted just for the blooms.

June 1: The little daylily strip I planted. Yay!

Called Spigelia. I love this and have it repeating in front.

June 16: Daylilies that haven't always bloomed. Must be the light.

June 16: Wild petunia. Planted it once,
seeds itself freely (a GOOD thing!).

June 16: Stokes aster, being crowded out.

June 17: St. John's wort, beloved of bees,
seems to have seeded the whole neighborhood.

June 17: Common milkweed.
Fragrant, beloved of bees and monarchs.

June 18: I will have to look up what this is.

June 18: Sundrops! I always wanted them.
Now I have enough sun!

June 18: acquired from a now-deceased neighbor.
Spreads a bit too much. Forget its name.

June 22: My patriotic pot!

Oakleaf hydrangea. I was surprised by the pink. Also, huge pollen drifts. Loving its new sunshine,
I'm going to have to cut it back. But it is really luxuriant this year!

May Wrap-Up

Yikes! I am so far behind if I wish to chronicle this year in the garden! So, here's a wrap-up of the merry month of May, in photos.

Overview of the newly fenced front, complete with grazing wildlife.

Tradescantia: found wild around here, spreads freely.
I have planted it, but not here, this is a volunteer.

May 9. American wisteria: love the purple blooms.
Slight re-bloom after first flush.

May 14. Baptisia, false indigo.

Nothing false about the shades of blue. I love this, 

have it all over.

May 14. Threadleaf bluestar on the corner.
Mostly grown for its fall foliage display.

May 17. Siberian Iris.
These came from Mom's garden on LI.

May 17. Peony and roses.
I didn't plant the peony, so it's more than 20 years old.
The roses had been deer eaten to the ground a few times.
Best display ever.

May 19. Blueberries.
I would have to work to protect from
birds and squirrels if I really wanted to
eat any. 

Two views of the roses. I planted this bush years ago. It didn't bloom for several years, because of the shade from the now-gone spruce. Also, was eaten down by deer at least once. So this is almost all new growth and it is spectacular!
Note another (more purple) false indigo at its base.

The first of what is going to be an amazing lily display!