A strange season this year, indeed. Cherries are ripening way early — two weeks, by some accounts — and yet, peonies, for some reason, stayed blooming later than ever.
Here’s an update of what’s ripening and blooming in the fields.
Cherries, ready for picking.
Peonies started a week or so late, and I kept up with deadheading them. As of this writing — a week later, June 20 — we still have a few flowers. The longest and latest year ever.
Pears are more or less on schedule, and looking good!
The columbine has lasted longer than usual, too.
Coreopsis, however, was short lived. A couple of weeks is all.
The yarrow feels early, but I must admit I don’t pay much attention to it usually, as it’s more of a filler behind the rock than an actual garden element.
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The grass seed I planted behind the garage last fall seems to be taking hold, somewhat. Good news, because that has been a weedy, muddy mess for quite a while.
The hydrangea we moved last August is looking good!
More peonies, plus Russian sage and coneflowers.
I don’t know. Should we keep bothering with asparagus? A lot of it died out a few years ago, and I planted more last summer to help the bed along, but I just wonder if it’s worth the effort — and an open garden bed with an ugly chain link fence view — for the tiny harvest we get each year. Thoughts?
I know I’m not supposed to have anything else in the asparagus bed, but I can’t help but let a few of the cosmos grow. They should help fill in where it’s so bare this year. I just hope I don’t pay for it later; the cosmos are sure to take up nutrients that the sparrow grass need.
The canna are sprouting up nicely. And we decided to go with a mosquito plant and a few caladium in the other pot. The caladium aren’t very succesful, but I love the mosquito plant. As I sit in the white chair, I reach down and rub the oils from the leaves, then touch my ankles or ears to help keep those little buggers away.
And here’s the lacecap hydrangea behind the pots. It is going to flower for the first time this year!
Also in front of this hydrangea, the herbs are doing great. I cut this lavender back nearly to the ground in spring, and I think that was a good move. It looks nice and healthy.
The thyme I just trimmed the edges and left the center. That’s why it is so tall, I guess.
We may have to move the iris. I thought they’d be blooming while the shrubs weren’t fully leafed out, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Alyssum. I planted by seed one year, and now it self-seeds now each year.
The dwarf cherry. The Northstar.
Sage and nepeta, or catmint. We need something behind it. Something pink would be good. Maybe it’s just that the phlox are blooming late?
Gorgeous cherries.
Hydrangea watch! This is the one by the back door. The one that Robin brought me last year. It’s really filling in! 
I love how the bottom leaves of the columbine are turning as purple as the flowers. 
This oak leaf hydrangea is going to make it back yet!
The Lenten Rose is still blooming!
The ninebark flowers have turned to red. This variety is called Diablo, and we can see why!
Geranium:
The red currants, usually ripe in July, aren’t far behind the cherries!
More container gardening.
And hard work int he garden is rewarded with relaxation in the garden. Cheers!
Related posts:
Garden Update: Sour Cherries, Blackberries, Currants, Asparagus, Alliums, Peonies, Irises, Columbine and More
Garden Update: Peonies, Iris, Cherries, Ninebark
Update on the Gardens: Cherries, Chives, Columbine, Iris, Peonies and More
Update on the Garden: Asparagus, Black Currants, Pears, Forget-Me-Nots and Purple Hyacinth
