Gardening in Highlands is a little different from most places. At over 4,000 feet, we’re on mountain time—literally and figuratively. June doesn’t come in hot and fast. It kind of rolls in gently, with cool mornings, fog drifting through the trees, and flowers that take their sweet time waking up.
This is one of my favorite times of year in the garden. Everything’s just starting to fill in after a long wait through our chilly spring. I like to walk the yard in the early morning with a cup of coffee, just checking in on what’s blooming.
Right now, the rhododendrons are close to putting on their big show. They bloom along the edges of the woods in big clusters—those lovely white flowers fill our woods. The bees love them and you can hear that low buzz as soon as you get close. And the mountain laurel is doing its thing too—those little pink and white cup-shaped flowers that almost look like icing.
In the shadier parts of the garden, the ferns are getting huge, and the hostas are just starting to become full. It all feels very alive but not in a rushed way. There’s no need to hustle here, everything grows at its own pace, and that’s one of the things I love most about it.
I’ve gained more interest in planting native flowers over the past few years – columbine, bee balm, wild geranium — Not only do they look great, but they also bring in the butterflies and hummingbirds.
If you have the same interest or curiosity, keep an eye out at the Old Historic Jail. My fellow gardeners in the Highlands Mountain Garden Club will be planting natives around the jail, it should be a great way to learn these lovelies.
Of course, deer are part of life up here. They wander through now and then, especially at dusk. I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) which plants they’ll leave alone—lavender, yarrow, and mountain mint seem to hold up pretty well.
By the end of June, the garden really fills out. Everything is lush and green, and there’s always something blooming, even if it’s just a surprise wildflower that’s popped up in a corner.
The rain comes often enough to keep things happy, and our cool mountain air keeps our vegetation lush. This may be one of the easiest places I’ve ever gardened.
What I love most about gardening here is that it slows you down. You learn to pay attention – to the light, the weather, the way a bloom opens a little more each day. It’s not flashy or fast. But it’s full of little moments that make you stop and appreciate where you are.
Happy Gardening!
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