Another garden season is upon us here in southern NH. March 9th, 70F. What!??? Some of my daylilies and hostas are already poking through the soil.
In typical New England style, we're forecast to have a low of 20F Sunday 3/15th. Mother Nature, please don't frostbite my daylily and hosta babies. :(
I may have to cover em with straw for added protection.
My aconites and snowdrops are blooming
And, our beehives survived the winter. wohoo The girls were flying this weekend -- 3/7th
They love this porous rock I found years ago at Ruggles Mine NH.
Hardly believe we're already into September. Seems like just yesterday I planted my vegetable garden.
The older I get the faster time goes. 
sad face
I participated in New England Daylily Society Exhibition July 27th. I won two first place / purple ribbons with Orchid Corsage and Swallow Tail Kite.
Best In Show was Lemon Strawberry Twist
Here are some lovelies still blooming as of August 2nd
Forsyth Flaming Snow Mid-Late Beautiful near white with soft pink edge
Little Baby Cakes sooo cute and she blooms over long period. One of the first to bloom and is still blooming August 2nd
Kennesaw Crossfire
Bob Marley this one is super intense orange / red. Picture taken in shade doesn't do him justice.
Dinner And a Movie This one is so darn cute. I love how she changes depending on the light.
Dossier She just glows from across the garden.
Jog On last bloom September 2nd
Police And Thieves Late season
Regale Finale last bloom September 1st
Simply Pretty Late Season
Had a busy last part of June and early July. Family visiting, camping. :)
Daylily season is finally here Happy Dance Saturday and Sunday July 20 & 21st we had a brief heat wave.
July 20th temp 95 with heat index of 109. Sunday 93 heat index 106.
Today Wednesday July 24th much cooler 81 high with evening temp 61 so much better. :)
We have yet to get any tomatoes or peppers from the garden. Finally got some zucchini and summer squash Yay :)
And now, for the star of the July garden Daylilies
Deliverer
Greywoods Road to Mecca
Dossier (love this one; peachy, melon blend)
Southern Shiner
Orange Vols -- taken at end of day. Gorgeous
Little Baby Cakes (this one is sooo cute; photo taken in shade)
Lydia's Regal Robe Beautiful Waldrop intro
It's officially rose season. We've had mostly clear, sunny days this past week. A few days of showers, but mostly sun.
Low 80's, low humidity I'll take it.
Now, on to the roses
First up is William Baffin he is showing off this year for sure. Absolutely covered in blooms. Albeit mostly at the top.
After this flush of blooms, I've got to get this guy pruned. Our honeybees are loving William Baffin.
Bee -- William Baffin
William Baffin
Julia Child is stunning as usual. What more can I say; she is 'hands down' the Best yellow on the market today- IMO.
Julia Child in my mother's garden
Next up is Paul's Himalayan Musk -- just started blooming 6/15th He is covered in buds; I expect in the next week he is going to absolutely explode with blooms.
We hiked today Saturday 6/15th. I saw my first ever Common Yellow Throat gorgeous - the yellow is so vibrant - knock your socks off.
Also saw my first Northern Water Thrush -- hopping from lily pad to lily pad in the beaver pond. And, topped it off with a Golden Eagle soaring over the pond.
Common Yellow Throat (photo Cornell Macaulay library)
An added bonus; the Mountain Laurel's are in full bloom all along the trail. What a sight to behold on this late spring day -- Can't believe summer is only a few days away.
Where did spring go so quickly?
Wild Mountain Laurel
And, some very late blooming lady slippers on the trail.
Sunday 6/16th Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. It was cloudy here with showers / rain.... A nice, slow, soaking rain which is perfect for the garden.
The peonies held up well from the rain.... Monday, June 17th dawned bright and sunny. Of course, it's Monday - back to work.
ITOH Cora Louise
Bloom just opening on Bowl Of Beauty
Bowl of Beauty
Coral Charm
Finally, the weather has warmed. Memorial Day Weekend we traveled to St. Albans Vermont to pick up Nucs from Michael Palmer. These are 'hands-down' the BEST nucs we've ever purchased. Chock full of bees, brood. St. Albans is about a 4 hour drive north; absolutely worth the trip.
The past four days weather (June 6th - June 9th) has been absolutely perfect. Nearly a cloud in the sky and warm - low 80s.
My son and his girlfriend visited the past few days. So thrilled to meet his girlfriend. She's an absolute treasure; love her already. Happy Dance 
In gardening news:
My gardens are being overwhelmed with weeds. ugh Hope to get some weeding done in the beds this weekend (Jun 15-16th).
Bishop's Weed has overtaken my daylily beds --- I have no idea how this weed got into my yard, but it's a thug that I can't seem to eradicate.
The vegetable garden is finally planted.
Tomatoes
Amish Paste https://www.johnnyseeds.com/ve...
Wisconsin 55 - https://www.johnnyseeds.com/ve...
Peppers
Revolution One of my favorite Bell Peppers for the Northeast https://www.fedcoseeds.com/see...
Mega Marconi Italian type https://www.fedcoseeds.com/see...
Summer Squash: Saffron https://www.fedcoseeds.com/see...
Zucchini: Costata Romanesco
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/ve...
I do a ton of canning and freezing; planted 120 peppers and 40 tomato plants. 1000+ onions.
Onion plants from: https://www.dixondalefarms.com...
I'm trying something new this year; planted 'Busy Bee' sunflower seeds and Zinnias in the asparagus bed.
I'm hoping to attract some beneficial insects to the vegetable garden. We'll see how this works out. ;)
https://www.burpee.com/flowers...
Speaking of Asparagus; the dreaded asparagus beetle larvae are already here.
I hand 'squish' these buggers. I know it's gross, but I don't want to spray especially with the beehives so close to
the vegetable garden.
Common Asparagus Beetle
Spotted Asparagus Beetle
Asparagus Beetle Larvae
And, in the flower gardens:
Iris season is sadly coming to an end.
Tall Bearded Iris (unknown)
June 11th, we have our first blooms of the Peony season here in southern NH.
White Peony (unknown)
Paeonia Cora Louise ITOH
Paeonia Coral Charm
I'm eagerly awaiting the first rose blooms of the season; as of 6/11th the roses are covered in buds.
I expect to see William Baffin first followed by Paul's Himalayan Musk 2nd. It's a guessing game which one
will be 3rd - maybe Chuckles or Excelsa (at least I think that's the name of this rambler).
For my Mother, I purchased Lady In Red climbing rose 5/4th Mahoney's Garden Center Winchester MA.
Lady In Red (Weeks 2018 ) https://www.weeksroses.com/pro...
Cheers All,
Happy Gardening
