Join me as I share photos of my June garden, including Red and Yellow Twig Dogwoods, Roses, Geranium Rozanne, Astilbes, Dianthus and more.
What is Six on Saturday?
Anyone who loves to garden can participate in Six on Saturday. We all share six photos of what’s happening in our gardens that week. You can see all of my previous Six on Saturday posts here to get an idea.
It’s been awhile since I’ve participated in Six on Saturday, mostly because I’ve been busy gardening. Seriously, I’m not trying to be funny. I’ve been consumed with our gardens and loving every minute of it — even the weeding!
Every week I’ve been composing a new Six on Saturday post in my head — while I was gardening. Alas, these posts never made it here onto my website. But I wrote some good ones in my head!
Now I’m back, and excited to share how the June garden looks.
Red Twig Dogwoods and Yellow Twig Dogwoods
My last Six on Saturday post mentioned the Philadelphia Flower Show, which I went to in the Spring. I’m happy to say I’ve incorporated some of my favorite things I saw there into our gardens. (The word “incorporated” sounds so…corporate. My apologies.)
I shared this photo in my Philadelphia Flower Show garden ideas post:
My husband and I loved how the Red Twig Dogwoods and Yellow Twig Dogwoods were planted together in this display. We agreed to make this happen in our own garden!
When you and your spouse agree on landscaping ideas, it makes changing things around so much easier!
We have five Red Twig Dogwoods, and in between each one is a Yellow Twig Dogwood. Both the red and yellow twig dogwoods put out white blooms, and the leaves are the same all Summer. Come Winter time, these will look really cool with the alternating stem colors.
The Red Twig Dogwoods that were originally on the other side of our front yard — in a different garden bed — were carefully dug up and transplanted into this bed across the yard by our awesome landscapers:
This bed isn’t one I think I’ve shared too often, but it’s finally coming into its own. The red and yellow twig dogwoods replaced some large grasses that we had going up that side of the property.
We cut the grasses down each Fall, so we wouldn’t irritate the neighbors with flying dried stuff during the Winter. However, the grasses never fully grew back until mid-June. Rather than having almost 8 months of no grasses — now we have year-round shrubs!
Evergreens up the other side
We replaced the Red Twig Dogwoods (that were moved) with Arborvitaes. We added three small Mugo Pines, which you can see underneath the River Birth tree. There are also a few small grasses that can stay “unpruned” during the Winter months.
Our property line ends where the mulched bed ends. The decorative stone strip and gravel driveway are our neighbor’s property.
The Arborvitaes match the ones in our side yard, and will give us some privacy as they fill in. The small Mugo Pines also match the large Mugo Pine we have in another bed in the front yard.
Geranium Rozanne and Knock Out Roses
I came across a neat planting combination idea to put Geranium Rozanne underneath Knock Out Rose bushes.
So of course I tried it!
The stunning purple-blue geraniums add color, hide the lower rose bush canes and will fill in nicely.
I love, love, love the glowing color of the geraniums against the mulch and with the roses. I’ll definitely be buying more of this plant next year since the geraniums seem happy here.
I think this plant combo is the most eye-catching in the June garden, especially as our Pinky Winky Hydrangeas won’t bloom for several more weeks.
Peach Blossom Astilbe
In the backyard garden — which needs more love but is already happier with some love so far — we have pretty blooms including three Peach Blossom Astilbe plants.
These perennials were originally planted in full blazing sunshine — a big no-no — by former landscapers who argued with me about it. (I was right.)
The Astilbe are so much happier now in the semi-shady garden in our backyard, and they last much longer since the blooms don’t get bleached out by too much sun.
Early Bird Frosty Dianthus
And last but not least: Early Bird Frosty Dianthus.
I planted this probably 6 or 7 years ago, and it’s only now that it has finally taken off. Look at all the buds! I’m thrilled because the white frilly flowers are so pretty. I’m also thrilled because I thought of ripping it out so many times over the years. Glad I didn’t. There’s another dianthus variety in the background.
So there you have it: June garden happenings for my Six on Saturday post! It’s good to be back and now I plan to click over to The Propogator blog to see what all my fellow gardeners from across the world have been up to this week.
You can see all of the gardening posts too: After clicking over and reading The Propogator’s own Six on Saturday post, scroll down to the comments section of his post, and you’ll find me and many others with our latest updates to enjoy. Lots of good gardening eye candy, I promise!
Happy gardening!
chicu
Love the astilbe!
Laura
Thanks — me too! So glad I moved it to our backyard.
LEONOR TORRES
I´m glad I subscribed. I love your newsletter. Beautiful garden ideas. and charming cats.
Laura
Thank you SO much Leonor! I really appreciate it — as do my cats! 🙂 Thanks as well for subscribing to my newsletter and I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!