There's something about June

Here in Saskatchewan, June is one of our nicest months. The temperature is warm, without being oppressive, and the flowers are just beginning to come into their beauty. We can anticipate several months ahead of lovely weather, barbecues, baseball games, outdoor picnics, vacation time, which for some may mean camping in several wonderful national parks...beach days...and of course for school children the imminent end of the school year. One can almost sense a collective sigh of satisfaction that summer has arrived.

In the condo apartment where I live, we have a casual sort of system of yard maintenance, based on personal choice.One of my neighbours, Dorothy, and I decided to buy the flowers for the front, and we chose pansies. So yesterday evening I spent time weeding, and planting, and then felt inspired as well to cut the grass.

I'm not good with a gas powered lawn mower, and struggled abit, almost ready to return the mower to the shed, when a neighbour across the lane, looked over her very tall fence. She said she'd help me but couldn't get over the fence, and then suggested I prime it 5 times again, and it worked. This is another nice thing about summer - we get to know our neighbours!

I enjoy cutting grass, as it is satisfying to see the result; in a way similar to shoveling snow in the winter. I'm so glad that I now know the secret to starting our mower!

I made a happy discovery in the backyard, while cutting the grass - a healthy bleeding heart plant!!!  In the fall, I hope to divide it and plant some of it in front of the condo. I'd been dreaming of getting a few bleeding hearts for the front, but didn't want to buy them.

                     

Here is an amazing clematis. A neighbour told me that it was planted some 30 years ago, and has been pulled out, and neglected,  over the years,but here it is!!


 This neighbour and another neighbour joined me to chat while I was planting the pansies, and explained that clematis are generally difficult to grow here - we discussed giving it more water and some dirt, but in the end they laughingly suggested benign neglect, as it has done so well on it's own resources. Still, I think it deserves some attention. :)

I do plan to spend more time weeding, and giving more TLC to the plants in the front of our building. I think there may be some milkweed though, and will look this up, and if it is plan to leave it to grow for any monarchs that may use it for laying eggs. If it isn't I might even look for milkweed to transplant somewhere in our backyard.

Well, thanks for following along here with me. How is June beginning where you are? This evening has been humid, with thunderstorms predicted. I have my windows open and can hear such glorious bird songs, including some quite loud chirk-chirk-chirking of blackbirds awhile ago.