What's Blooming in My Garden in June

It's been a right while since I've done a What's Bloomin' post but as I was strolling through the garden over the past few days, all of the gorgeous flowers motivated me to take out my phone and snap a *few* pictures.

Digitalis 'Faery Queen'

It's been a very late start to the season this year, the latest in recent memory - I'm sure we hit some records for low temperatures in May.  Many plants in the garden were just itching to get started & I have a feeling that there's more overlap of blooms this year than in the past.  I wish I was as dedicated as Carol in documenting my blooms so I can compare this June with years past - maybe I'll be more diligent in future...we'll see!

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy taking a virtual stroll through my garden.  I'm linking to Carol's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - do check out her Indiana garden to see what's blooming.  Even though we are more or less in the same zone* - did I mention we went up to zone 6a recently? - she looks to be quite a bit ahead of me.

There's a little bit of everything here (which is how I like to garden) - from new additions to the garden to those that were here long before we were (the OG's) and even some that I grew from seed (one of my passions!)

And now, the Bloom Parade!

Columbine 'Barlow Mix' (from seed)

Geum 'Flames of Passion'

Geranium 'Lancastriense'
I've been on a bit of a Geranium binge in recent years

Peony (OG to the garden)

Heuchera 'Caramel Apple' - Heuchera blooms are so delicate;
it's difficult to capture how pretty they are on camera.

Salvia 'Salvatore Blue' (from seed)

Weigela (OG to the garden)

Allium (mystery variety)

Dianthus sylvestris (from seed - sown this year so it's still a baby😊)

Dragon's Head (Dracocephalum argunense) 'Fuji White'
Don't know much about this guy but it's a lovely front of the border plant.

Digitalis 'Carousel Mix' (from seed)

Geranium 'Orion'

Lupine (mystery variety)
This one was purchased at a hort society sale;it was supposed to be
'Flamethrower' but is obviously not (likely a self-sown seedling)

Sicilian Honey Garlic (Nectaroscordum)

Salvia 'Blue by You'

Clematis 'Nelly Moser'

Iris setosa (Bristly Iris)
Not very floriforous yet but I really love the delicate blooms...
and there's a Nigella photobombing just behind it on the right

Astrantia 'Vanilla Gorilla'
I "discovered" Astrantia (Masterwort) a few years ago &
now keep an eye out for it at the nurseries.
This variety has leaves with white margins.

Close-up of blooms on 'Vanilla Gorilla'

Dianthus 'Rainbow Loveliness' (from seed)
This Dianthus gives such a beautiful show in late spring/early summer,
then you cut it back and it will bloom again later in the season - a favourite!

Columbine (OG to garden)

Penstemon 'Dazzler Blend' (from seed)
The colour on this one is phenomenal; I'm growing more this year!

A more complete view of Dazzler Blend - one of my favourites!

Clematis 'Boulevard Samaritan Jo'
After trying Clematis in this spot THREE(!) times, I finally learned my lesson
and surrounded the based with hardware cloth to stop critters from chopping it off at ground level.

Bearded Iris (OG to garden)

Peony 'Alertie'
This baby was purchased as a bareroot in 2024
and it's giving me a wonderful show this year.

Ninebark 'Diablo'
(I'm guessing here as this guy was OG to the garden)

Salvia 'Snowhill'
Almost finished blooming, but the bees are still loving it!

Dianthus 'Supra Pink' (from seed)
This one is a 2017 AAS Winner & SO pretty!
It was "tested as an annual" by AAS, but here it's in its 3rd year.

Iris 'Black Joker'
The Peacock Butterfly** series of Iris are absolutely stunning!

Astrantia 'Moulin Rouge'

 

Vibernum 'Lil' Ditty'
This dwarf vibernum only gets to a couple of feet tall!

Heuchera 'Northern Exposure'
Another heuchera with gorgeous blooms!  I'm thinking of putting some
deep green hosta behind it which should really showcase them
(don't mind the drip lines...this area needs WAY more plants to hide it 😉)

Nepeta 'Junior Walker'
This is a much more compact version of the legendary 'Walkers Low'.
Fun fact: The name 'Walkers Low' is somewhat confusing - many folks understandably
think it refers to it's size and then are surprised that it's huge!
The name, in fact, originates from Mrs. Walker, who discovered the plant
in the 'low' section of her garden.  Now you know 😊 

Dicentra 'Luxurient'
This is my 3rd try with fernleaf Dicentra and
I think I finally found a spot that it likes!

Salvia 'Sky Dance' (from seed)
Almost done blooming but still lovely

Geranium (Mystery variety)
This was a hort society sale find that gently self-seeds

And there you have it!  I hope you enjoyed this peak into what's blooming in my garden.  Seeing how the garden is "growing" is always such an adventure each and every year.

Happy Gardening!

*Canadian & U.S. hardiness zones are calculated in different ways, so "technically" Zone 6a in Canada is not the same as Zone 6a in the U.S. Having said that, the vast majority of hardiness zone information online for specific plants uses U.S. zones and that's what I go by when I purchase plants - I'm what they call a "zone pusher".  The only exception is when I'm purchasing an expensive plant such as a tree - then I'll *sometimes* be more cautious - depending on how much it is and how badly I want it :)

**Edited (corrected as I mistakenly stated the "Joker" series)