What’s Blooming This Month?
A Few Flowers to Spot on the Farm in June
Things are busy and blooming on the farm in June. Let’s kick things off and celebrate summer with a peek at what’s growing at our beautiful farm. The gardens are just sneaking out a little color with a few early blooms and we have a few favorites stealing the show. Whether you’re planning your own garden, or looking for flower care advice, here are our favorites for June!
Cosmos
Cosmos are low-fuss and super easy flowers to grow from seed and maintain, which is why we love them. With their feathery foliage, Cosmos is great for boarders, pollinator gardens, used as greenery/filler, or for adding a pop of color in a bouquet.
Here’s a Few Care Tips to Keep in Mind:
Keep them in full sun
Poor soil is actually good
Avoid overwatering
Deadhead to keep the blooms coming
Varieties of cosmos we love to grow include Apricotta, Bi-Color Violet, Fizzy White, and Veloutte. All of these are great for cutting and look gorgeous in the garden, in mixed bouquets, or in a vase just by themselves.
Where can you find seeds? We collect and have seeds listed in our seed shop each February 1st. Check out our seed shop here to see these and other fun varieties.
Apricotta Cosmos
Zinnias
Zinnias are bright blooms that thrive in the heat, which makes them perfect for hot Iowa summers. You can even forget to water them on occasion, and they won’t mind too much! We love their forgiving nature. Zinnias also look beautiful in a vase and last well, so take advantage of bringing some inside to enjoy.
Care Tips:
Keep them in full sun
Water regularly
Cut the first bloom to ‘pinch’ them to promote branching
Deadhead them regularly for more blooms
Benary’s Giants are the BEST we grow for use in bouquets. Their large, focal blooms are irresistible in a bouquet. We also love growing the ‘cute as a button’, Oklahoma Series, and the unique colors of the Queen Series. There are a TON of options of zinnias to choose from in so many colors. You should try them all!
Where can you find seeds? We collect and have seeds listed in our seed shop each February 1st. Check out our seed shop here to see these and other fun varieties.
Queen Series Zinnias
Salvia
If you’re looking for a flower that is loved by pollinators and humans alike, Salvia is a beautiful addition to any pollinator garden. It’s particularly well-loved by bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds and pairs nicely with other pollinator flowers like lavender. Salvia is also a tough flower that will keep going all summer when taken care of with the occasional trim.
Our favorite varieties are Caradonna, a perennial and Blue Bedder, an annual that is a gorgeous true blue bloom.
Care Tips:
Keep them in full sun – Salvia especially loves the sunlight!
After the first bloom, trim back to encourage more growth
Ranunculus
Ranunculus are quite similar to the beloved Rose with pretty colors and layers that look stunning in bouquets. While they may look fragile, they are quite tough despite their shorter season but be sure to take full advantage of them in June!
Care Tips:
Pre-sprout inside in late winter/early spring.
Plant out very early in the season (when there is still danger of frost). Ranunculus will only bloom in soil under 70F
Needs well-draining soil
We love all varieties of ranunculus, but we especially love the La Belle series. You can find these on our website in early October here.
Anemone
Anemone has a unique look with its white, delicate petals and dark centers. They make for a stunning contrast piece in any garden and a nice focal flower in a bouquet.
Care Tips:
Cooler conditions and moist soil are preferred
Pre-sprout and plant out early, like ranunculus
June’s Blooms at a Glance
| Flower | Sun | Water | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmos | Full sun | Low | Pollinators, borders |
| Zinnias | Full sun | Moderate | Cutting, bright displays |
| Salvia | Full sun | Low | Pollinators, rock gardens |
| Ranunculus | Part sun | Moderate | Bouquets, romantic boarders |
| Anemone | Part shade | Moist | Shady beds, contrast filler |
The start of summer is the perfect time to start experimenting or getting inspired for next season. Sadly, June won’t stick around forever, so be sure enjoy these blooms at their best, but we can’t wait to share what else is blooming and going on around the farm throughout the summer!
XX Jenn and Adam
