June In My Southern Cottage Garden

June is one of the most beautiful months in our Southern cottage garden. The beds are full, the flower house is surrounded by color, and this moment feels like the peak of everything we’ve worked toward.

But June is also the beginning of what I call the hard season. The heat and humidity settle in here and gardening shifts from planting and dreaming to maintaining and adapting.

Annuals in Full Bloom

Right now, the annuals planted in the silo rings are thriving and the zinnias and sunflowers are starting to bloom. The Gaura is one of my favorites this time of year, swaying in the breeze and adding movement to the garden beds. It handles the heat well and fills in the space with soft, fluttery texture.

Dahlias and Reliable Perennials

Our dahlias bloom early, which is one of the benefits of leaving them in the ground through our winter. Technically, they’re not perennials in all zones, but here, I treat them that way .  I dig them up and divide them when needed, and replant them each season.

The Becky daisies, phlox, and coneflowers we planted in front of the flower house are finally coming together. This little section of the garden is just starting to look like the vision I’ve had in my mind for years.

We’ve also planted more than 50 hydrangeas over the years. It’s taken time and plenty of trial and error, but I’ve learned what grows well in our soil and climate.

Why I’m Growing Peonies in the South

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know peonies are my favorite flower.

We grow them because we love them and I don’t mind that they only bloom once a season.  That short window of beauty is more than worth it.

When we first started gardening, I wasn’t sure if our Southern climate would be too hot for peonies. But years ago, we planted some around our home, well before the flower garden ever existed and they thrived. That gave us the confidence to expand.

Now we have around 200 mature peonies in the garden, and this spring, we potted 300 more roots that we’ll plant in the fall.  You can read more about peony season in my last blog post

Learning What Thrives Here

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a gardener is that not all plants are created equal.  Take peonies, for example: some varieties bloom abundantly, while others are better suited to handle our intense southern heat. The same goes for something as simple as a daisy. People often assume a daisy is just a daisy, but there are many different kinds, each with its own growth habits, bloom time, and climate preferences.

Our garden is mostly perennial. I still tuck in a few annuals each season, but my focus has shifted toward building something long-lasting and sustainable, especially through the challenging summer months. One thing I always tell fellow gardeners is to do your research on varieties.

If you want daisies, don’t just grab the first one you see.  Explore your options and find the variety that fits your garden’s conditions and your vision.

June maybe the beginning of the hard season, but it’s also when the garden reminds me why I fell in love with growing things in the first place.

kindly, xo
Jane

P.S. Join Me On Pinterest to see more from our Southern cottage garden.  It’s where I share all my images in one place. If something in this post inspires you, go ahead and pin it! It’s the easiest way to save ideas for your own garden.