Here we are, saying good bye to yet another spring season and welcoming summer with open arms. Why would I say it’s summer already? Simply because of the first peony blossom! This is my tell tale sign that summer has truly arrived. Here in Iowa, they bloom quite a bit earlier than my hometown of Wisconsin, where they bloom right around June 20th. Peonies are an old-fashioned favorite and are another one of those flowers that are in the childhoods of several people. Older neighborhood yards are quite a beautiful sight right now as they are typically planted around older houses and live for generations. Some have an unforgettable fragrance and come in color combinations of white, pink, burgundy. and red. Some of the burgundy peonies do not smell as nice as white and pink ones. Peonies bloomed on May 16th this year, which is normal.

Lillies are in full bloom today in my garden, which I find very strange, as they are very early this year and typically bloom in early June. I believe they got fooled by being moved from a cool garden and planted on a warm southern exposure. I have not seen any blooming anywhere else.

Perennial lavender is starting to bloom this week as well. This is a brand new plant for me because I never lived in a climate warm enough to grow it. This is one that would only do well in the southern one-third of Iowa.

Grasses are really starting to grow now, thanks to the taste of warmth and humidity we have had recently. I really like these in the garden, especially later in the summer, when they produce flower heads. I have included several native grasses in my landscape as a tribute to Iowa’s Prairie.

We are fully entrenched into a summer season now, and all trees are now at 100% leaf size. It has been that way for nearly two weeks. The trees are at the stage they will be at for the summer season, or what I call the “leaves of summer.” This fits well as I am on my sixth time mowing the lawn already.