Blooming flowers, ripe fruit, and the longest day of the year… it must be June! We’re getting ready for the height of the gardening season while also learning some neat history and fun facts about this month.
Hi folks! John Kelly here….
We love prepping our gardens for the season and getting everything in the ground… but we get most excited when those plants are in full bloom. The beginning buds of May are now blooming blossoms!
That’s just one of the many reasons we love June! Here are a few more:
Weather
Say Hello to Summer
Doesn’t it feel great to go outside without a jacket?
June weather in Eau Claire is typically pleasant, with plenty of sunshine and occasional rain showers. However, it’s not uncommon to experience increased humidity and occasional thunderstorms, especially late in the month. Daytime highs often range from mid-70s to low 80s, while nighttime lows can fall into the 50s and 60s.
This month provides ideal conditions for planting and growing a variety of vegetables, flowers, and other plants. Rising temperatures and more daylight provide optimal are ideal for plant growth, allowing for rapid development and robust yields of warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and beans. However, the aforementioned humidity and heavy showers can lead to fungal diseases, pests, and weeds, so it’s important to monitor plants closely and take preventive protective measures, such as proper spacing, adequate air circulation, and sufficient mulching.
Significant Days in May
June 6 – Gardening Exercise Day
National Gardening Exercise Day promotes the healthy benefits of gardening, such as physical activity, stress reduction, and improved mental well-being. This day encourages people of all ages to incorporate gardening into their fitness routines. Planting, weeding, digging, watering, and harvesting provide a full-body workout and improve strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health.
Various outdoor tasks such as sowing flowers or vegetables, landscaping, pruning shrubs, and mowing the lawn can be tailored to suit different fitness levels and preferences, making gardening an accessible and enjoyable form of exercise.
June 10 – Herbs and Spices Day
National Herbs and Spices Day explores the vast culinary and medicinal uses of herbs and spices and celebrates their cultural and historical significance. This day highlights the rich diversity of herbs and spices and inspires us to incorporate them into our cooking and daily lives. In addition to enhancing the taste of food, herbs and spices offer an abundance of health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
We are encouraged to celebrate this day by experimenting with new recipes and learning about unique flavors and uses. This may include planting an herb garden, attending a cooking class or workshop, visiting spice markets and specialty stores, or creating homemade herb-infused oils, vinegars, and seasonings.
June 13 – Weed Your Garden Day
National Weed Your Garden Day reminds us to be proactive in our efforts to control weeds, keep gardens tidy, and ensure the health and vitality of our plants. Weeds compete with cultivated plants for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Left unchecked, they can hinder the growth of desirable plants, reduce yields, and diminish a garden’s overall beauty.
June 13th is also a good day to inspect gardens and remove weeds by hand or with appropriate tools. Pulling weeds when the soil is moist makes it easier to remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth. Applying mulch to garden beds may also suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight and conserving soil moisture. Removing weeds creates an optimal growing environment, promotes better air circulation, and minimizes the risk of pests and diseases.
Honorable Mentions
Other fun national days this month are Cheese Day (June 4), Dragonfly Day (June 8), Cucumber Day (June 14), and Meteor Watch Day (June 30),
Fun Facts
Strawberry Moon
June’s full moon is often called the “Strawberry Moon.” It was named by the Algonquin tribes that observed the moon signaled the appropriate time for harvesting ripened wild strawberries. The Strawberry Moon celebrates the arrival of summer and the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. Alternative names from other cultures include “Blooming Moon” from the Anishinaabe, “Berries Ripen Moon” from the Haida, and “Green Corn Moon” from the Cherokee.
“June” Etymology
The word “June” is derived from the Latin word “Junius.” In Roman mythology, Juno was the queen of the gods, the wife of Jupiter, and the patron goddess of women, marriage, and childbirth. This particular month was considered sacred to Juno, and many weddings were traditionally held at this time to seek her blessings for a happy marriage. Eventually, the name “Junius” evolved into the English word, “June,” retaining its association with the goddess Juno and the themes of love, fertility, and new beginnings.
Summer Solstice
The summer solstice, often referred to as midsummer, is an astronomical event marking the longest day of the year and the shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when the Earth’s axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun, resulting in the sun appearing at its highest point in the sky and providing the most daylight of any day in the year. Many ancient societies celebrated the summer solstice as a time of fertility, abundance, and renewal, marking it with rituals, festivals, and gatherings. Today’s celebrations take various forms, often as a time of joy, vitality, and connection with nature. This year, the summer solstice occurs on June 20th at 3:50pm.
Birth Flowers of the Month
Roses
Known for their exquisite fragrance and stunning blooms, roses are classic symbols of love, beauty, and romance. With thousands of available varieties, colors, shapes, and sizes, there’s a rose for every garden and every occasion. These versatile flowers add elegance and charm to any setting.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, roses hold deep symbolism, with different colors representing various emotions and sentiments. For example, red roses symbolize passion and love, yellow represents friendship and joy, and white depicts loyalty and purity. Roses are also prized for their essential oils which are used in perfumes, cosmetics, and aromatherapy products.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckles are fragrant, fast-growing vines known for their sweetly scented flowers and attractive foliage. They’re prized for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, making them valuable additions to any landscape. Honeysuckles are often found covering fences, trellises, and arbors, providing privacy and shade, and adding beauty and fragrance to outdoor spaces.
Additionally, honeysuckles have a long history of medicinal and culinary use. The flowers can be infused into teas, syrups, and tinctures for their soothing properties, while the edible berries are used to make jams and jellies. Symbolically, honeysuckles are associated with happiness, devotion, and affection, making them popular choices for wedding bouquets and romantic gifts.
One More Thing…
Father’s Day is June 16th! If you’re still searching for a gift for your green-thumbed dad, don’t worry – we’ve got your back! Check out our Father’s Day Gardening Gift Guide.
As always, if you need supplies, ideas, or advice, stop by Chippewa Valley Growers – we’re happy to help.
Until next time… Keep Smiling! Keep Living the Dream!
Want more? Check out: Expert Tips for Choosing the Best Plants, Prevent Pests in Your Garden Without Pesticides, and Five Tips to Keep Your Cut Flowers Fresh.
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