4. June 2026
June- the gateway to summer.
The summer solstice is approaching, the longest day of the year. At this time we hope to be basking in beautiful sunshine that just lifts the spirit and makes anything feel possible. Long lazy days and warm summer evenings encourage us to slow down. Rather than being introspective as in Winter we long to connect with family and friends. To share a BBQ or picnic, an evening in a beautiful garden with a glass of something chilled. Summer makes all this a possibility. Even the British rain can be welcome at this time of year. After days of intense heat and baking sunshine the gentle summer rain causes the garden to sigh in relief and the smell of petrichor strikes the very centre of our primal heart.
June is the time of Elderflower, Hogweed, Dog Rose and Meadowsweet. Their blossoms are a plenty and make the air heady with scent. Foxgloves stand tall opening their flowers from bottom to top to rise above the encroaching undergrowth. Listen out for bees who potter inside and vibrate their bodies to release the pollen, they can sometimes sound quite manic! Dandelion clocks are so numerous now, their seeds released by just the right amount of breeze. These little seeds are loved by Goldfinches. In fact a few years ago, my poor Mum had spent a fortune on feeders and Niger seed trying to encourage these brightly painted little birds into her garden....sadly to no avail. Popping round to mine one day, she watched in envy as around a dozen Goldfinches took flight up from the grass as Pippy-dog went trotting into the garden. How did you manage that? was the question.......dandelions was the answer!!
Caterpillars are making an appearance now too. Look on any patch of nettles and there may be a few different species. Years ago we had Ragwort in the garden, a plant despised by farmers and animal owners as it is highly toxic when eaten. That said we had guinea pigs (mini sized lawn mowers) who simply munched their way around it leaving tall stems of yellow flowers dotted around the garden. However, it is the important food stuff of the Cinnabar Moth caterpillar. These moths are a daytime moth, grey-black wings with red stripes and spots on them. The caterpillars are a striking orange and black stripe- a warning to any hungry predator that they are not worth bothering with. Over the years in the garden the Ragwort has given way to nettles- at least they help to deter the cabbage whites away from my brassicas!!
Next time......in the kitchen.