June

“In June, as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore them.” Aldo Leopold

6^th post in a series of 12 for 2026

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June is filled with long golden evenings, lightning bugs, and eating dinner on the porch. It’s the beginning of summer laziness and quiet cool mornings in the garden. We’ve had stellar weather here in the Northeast: three weeks of days in the 70s and chilly nighttime temperatures making sleeping a cozy experience. I am in heaven. As a winter-lover, I generally find summer’s heat and humidity unbearable, and for sure, we will have some scorchers later on, but right now I am ecstatic with the summer weather as it was when I was growing up.

A walk around the garden in the early morning is a delight, a pilgrimage of the soul: purple clematis climbing on the white fence that surrounds my yard; yellow evening primrose, brought from my garden in PA, has spread everywhere here; the fragrant fringe trees dropping their spent blooms on the green grass below them; an apricot rose tumbling over the fence along the sidewalk capturing pedestrians’ attention; calming lavender filling in spaces in my herb bed; and elderberry’s white flowers waiting to be gathered to be made into tea for a hot afternoon, the Ancient Mother’s recipe.

Walking barefoot on the sunbaked bluestone paths amongst bellflower, ragged robin, and monarda volunteers as the mauve shadows of dawn’s brightening light arrive over the treetops- the sound of wind through the bull pine by the garage reminds me of summer nights sleeping on my childhood porch during a rainstorm.

Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess has brought all her glorious warmth to our chilly New England mornings, building all day to a sweltering afternoon where all I want to do is recline on the porch with a glass of iced tea where I can observe hummingbirds drinking honeysuckle and foxglove nectar.

June has wings! Butterflies in the twilight, bird babies are learning to fly, and pesky carpenter bees have decided the garage clapboard must be hiding tasty treats. Is there a toad living in my toad house? Not yet, but soon it will supply cooling shade for an overheated little guy.

An afternoon cloudburst necessitates closing doors and windows for a bit, to be reopened to cool breezes carrying scents of lilac to soothe a worried mind. June is the month of garden growth and passing blossoms, heralding the next wave of color and clamor. I am in my element, as they say. Surrounded by Her blessings, I relinquish control and simply watch the magic of nature. Won’t you take a stroll through your own garden, or a park, or better yet, a botanical house? Tell me what you find….what is your favorite flower and why?