By Lorraine Kiefer
I was outside early recently watering my plants and I couldn’t help but think of the lyrics of an old favorite song, “June is busting out all over.” The birds were singing, the sun was bright, many new seedlings had popped, others had grown, blooms were everywhere and it was beautiful. In fact I went in and typed “June is busting out all over” and soon was seeing the awesome original song and dance on Utube.
It is a beautiful June! Every single plant in our garden has grown and there are even tomatoes, peppers and squash on the plants!
It is not to late to plant most plants. Buy nice big tomato plants and bury them deep. Feed them with the green lid time-release osmocote for flowers and vegetables. I use this along with lots of compost and organic matter. With the long hours of sunlight and warm temperatures they will respond with growth and blooms.
A fragrant tree that is named for the month of July in some northern countries is the Linden! Here in Southern New Jersey it blooms now. We planted this about 25 years ago and have enjoyed it right out in front of our nursery between the annuals and the parking lot.
Beekeepers especially love this tree, as the fragrant, tiny, five-petalled flowers have such an aromatic nectar that the bees choose it before any other flowers during the Linden’s bloom. The strongly flavored light colored honey the bees process from the nectar is considered the epitome of high quality honey.
If you would like to plant a tree that is easy to grow, fragrant when in bloom, a great pollinator tree and one that yields flowers for a healthful tea, try a Linden. We have some nice ones that will easily fit in a car.
If there are bare spots in your yard add some annuals now. The four-pack size plants are easy…
