June House Log
Bloom Watch
House Logs are an offshoot of my Nature Log and We Make a Home series, created with the intention to record the beauty and seasons during (at least) our first year living on our new piece of land! I’ll be sharing photo essays about each month, and all the photos will be taken at/in our home and on our land as a way to observe and appreciate this new-to-us place. It will cover explorations both wild and domestic.
We have named our home Woodsong. (Have you tried naming your home? Your car? Your favorite pen? Try it!!). I’ve been wanting to share that name because it has started to feel really natural to use it. It’s so right!
June passes so quickly. It’s like everything is relieved that summer is really, truly here, and it’s safe to put on new growth and begin to flower and ripen and explore.
The evergreens we planted this year put on long, bright green tips this month, finally emerging from dormancy and promising us that they will survive (at least) this year.
I find myself peeking in at more and more exciting wildlife encounters. A flock of turkeys lives around us, passing by the house every few days. One afternoon, I heard extended and frantic squawking. I saw big, fluttery jumps through the trees.
And then, after carefully sneaking up under a tree—a fox!
It had clearly been riling a group of three turkeys. They did not run from the fox; it seemed like they were trying to hold their ground in an extended standoff. They were all just about bigger than the fox, but surely it could have taken one down. It was panting in the June heat, and it ran, hopping like a dolphin through the field, when it saw me.
Our final crops—peppers, tomatoes, eggplants—all went into the garden this month.
The tomatoes just absolutely skyrocketed, growing visibly larger every couple of days. I was pinching off flowers to encourage more growth before they set fruit, but they’ve overwhelmed me with their persistence. So, the flowers are blooming.
I spent the most time with the peas. Wow, peas are magical!! Beautiful veined flowers that glow in the sun. Adorable little calyx hats. Climbing tendrils. Plump, crunchy pods.
We grew magnolia blossom (pink flower, purple pod) and standard sugar snap peas, and I have no doubt we are going to eat every single one.
The chamomile is winding down just a little bit, and am I crazy to think about seeding more? I want more!! I’m not sure how they feel about the deep summer heat. I’ll be thinking on it.
I am on bloom watch for borage and calendula. I can’t wait to see all the pollinators our flowers bring!
There are three Swallowtail caterpillars living in the parsley.
I immediately recognized them because I did a study on Tiger Swallowtails last year. The caterpillar pictured in the photograph is a member of the papilionidae family, and may transform into one of the many butterflies in that family, while the one in my drawing is specifically papilio glaucus. I hope I get to see this one when it gets its wings!
Out in the forest, I found a yet undiscovered elderberry bush flowering. What a treasure!
And, the wild blueberries are ripening. They are tiny, but the bush is chock full.
And there is one other wild plant that has been delighting me. Tiny Blue Toadflax flowers have popped up all around the house, and they are beautiful. We don’t have a yard, but we do have this.
What a glorious and beautiful world to live in. 🥰
Y’all are non-stop amazing 🤩 ♥️♥️