Early June Garden Fragrances Merge ~ A Potpourri of Pinks With Touches of White ~ Roses and Pink Lilacs

Quietly strolling through the early June gardens . . .  while a gentle breeze whispers and restores, numerous birds sing and dart here and there, Tree Swallows silently sweep the sky, dozens of butterflies flit about the shrubberies and layers of fragrances merge . . .  feels quite close to heavenly.  

Rosa Rugosa and Miss Canada Lilac are very compatible in color and scent and are truly the flora stars of this late spring rambling garden.

Rosa Rubrifloia 'Glauca', Rosa Rugosa 'Purple Pavement' in North Garden

Delicate Rosa Rubrifloia 

Rosa Rugosa 'Purple Pavement'

Delicious!

Rosa Rugosa 'Purple Pavement' in North Garden

Unknown old fashion rose in South Rock Garden 

Unknown white Rosa Rugosa in North Garden

Looking between Apple tree trunks up toward Middle Garden

'Miss Canada' Lilac, Beauty bush and Rosa Rugosa  ~ Lovely shades of pink as seen from the barn studio door.

Tiger Swallowtails were all over the florets of 'Miss Canada' Lilac just outside the barn studio windows.

Looking north and down from the upstairs apartment window Miss Canada Lilac and Beauty bush spread out nicely. 

Spirea 'Bridal Wreath' spills over between 'Miss Canada' Lilac and Beauty bush just outside barn studio at sunset.

A waterfall of white Spirea  'Bridal Wreath' 

I do get lost when walking out into our jungle-like gardens . . . camera around my neck, garden gloves and pruners in my pocket . . . hours go by without my noticing. I feel like a member of a wild community and there are many small eyes warily watching my movements. 

Ms. Bluebird is busy building her second nest, in the same nestbox (after I cleaned it out), in the middle garden! Yeah! The Baltimore Orioles, Phoebes and Tree Swallows are steadfastly caring for their young and countless other birds are too . . . in hidden places I have yet to discover. 

I am always discovering something new within this lush landscape and love how it merges with my softer sanguine self, to create an inner peace. For . . . have I mentioned . . .  our gardens are like a jungle? Yes, I have a few times at least. After long years of anxious angst, I have accepted . . .  that the gardens have a life of their own . . .  and I have yielded to it . . . mostly.

Weeding to any major extent is impossible without a full-time staff of three or four . . . with two part-time helpers we are able to keep things we care about alive and at least give them a head start on the invasives. I have come to enjoy the rather overflowing garden floor and luckily most of my plants and shrubs reach high above the carpet of bishop's weed, bedstraw and (right now) comfrey. The comfrey will be cut down once the flowers have passed (pollinators adore the generous nectar) and I will continue to add more natives that are robust enough to survive here. 

One thing that survives here with no trouble at all . . . is the pure magical quality of surprise and suspense.  

Glimpses of North and Middle Garden Walkabouts

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' 

Gray Catbird Eggs - Second Brood

Rosa Rugosa

Thermopsis villosa and White Birch before Walnut Hill

Chipping Sparrow in Nest

Chipping Sparrow Eggs 

Rosa Virginiana 

Female Indigo Bunting and Nestlings in a Peony!

Inidgo Bunting Nestlings  -  More on these later on. 

Tree Swallow Nestling Nearly Fledged 

Hydrangea macrophylla  'Nikko Blue'

Looking through Middle Gardens and Tree Swallow Nestbox towards Mount Holyoke Range

It is amazing to discover so many birds nesting in a small area of the gardens. I will be posting more on these particular families later. For today . . .  just a glimpse at a few of my observations while walking in the north and middle gardens over the last few days. 

 I eyed the White-tailed doe early one morning . . .  when she became aware of me . . .  she began making soft grunting sounds. I was certain there must be a fawn in the garden and that she was communicating with her tiny spotted baby.  I did scan carefully through the taller swathes of wildflowers and between shrubberies but could not discover the young deer. The doe walked around a bit seemingly unafraid of me. I followed her for some time . . . speaking softly . . .  while I took time to glance around at the other attractions in the garden.  After awhile . . .  upon coming inside . . .  I noticed her stepping along side her fawn under the 'Three Graces' Crabapples. The beautiful creatures soon leapt away down towards the blueberry fields and forest. 

With all the wildlife about . . . the gardens seem enchanted. 

Woven Tapestries of Flora and Fauna Overcast and Bright

Apple tree where Robins rear their young.

Empty Catbird nest

Catbird fledgling 

Soft single roses

please most in simplicity 

garden tapestries 

 Robin in earnest

through rain and sun weaving cup

 holding fragile young

Always a mouthful 

detritus and twigs for walls

upon apple branch

Squealing worms for all

clamorous hunger needs met

endless work for mom 

Abandoning nests

looking in the shrubberies 

fledglings stand alert

Catbirds build anew

no empty nest syndrome here

fresh cup add blue eggs

Butterflies take care

near the bottom of food chain

 needed sustenance

There is much ado about the garden with many fledglings here and there. If you would like to read and see the tale of the Catbird's first brood, please visit Native Plants & Wildlife Gardens.