Garden Keeping Journal - June Edition
Monthly Tips, Inspiration & Checklists for Zone-7 (and neighboring) gardeners
Not gardening in Zone-7?
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Hello dearest readers,
By June, most of us have done the hard part.
Weâve hauled home new plants, tucked seedlings into the ground, rearranged containers three times, and spent more than we intended at the nursery.
Now comes the part that often determines whether the garden thrives or merely survives: watering wisely, managing pests early, and paying attention to what the plants are trying to tell us.
If a few plants are looking a little stressed right now, or if youâve already lost a seedling or two, donât worry - youâre in good company.
June is often the month when the garden begins revealing what is happy, what is struggling, and what needs a little extra attention.
By now, here in the high mountains of the Southwest, we've entered that dry and warm part of our summer. Monsoons typically enter the stage in late June. This year, surprisingly, itâs been mild and gorgeous - chilly evenings and mornings and warm but not hot days. Nothing to complain about here!
Strategies for June include a solid watering plan, and one of the biggest favors you can do for yourself is to match plants to the conditions you actually have, rather than the conditions you wish you had. Shade structures or layering of plants can help immensely.
Remember - overwatering can be just as bad as too little or too shallow as well.
An important reminder for gardening at elevation:
Our sun is intense up here in the mountains - my big tip for you this month:
A plant labeled âfull sunâ on its label or online doesnât always mean it thrives in full, unfiltered exposure at 5,000â6,000 feet. Filtered light can make all the difference.
June at Juniper Hill Cottage
A few behind-the-scenes notes from the garden as spring begins to settle in.
đźWhat Iâm Planting
Dill (Anethum graveolens) âMammothâ and âBouquetâ *
Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) *
Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) âTorchâ *
Castor Bean *
Store bought succulents and Coleus for my annual pots
*direct sowing seeds in the ground
đźWhatâs Blooming
Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) âBeaujolaisâ, âHigh Scentâ, and âRoyale Blendâ - beautiful rich colors and off the charts scents
New Mexican Evening Primrose (Oenothera neomexicana) - like a carpet of pale pink clouds
Engelmannâs Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii) - stunning apricot, sunset blooms the size of your palm
Angelica - covered with bees and pollinators, and that scent is like heaven
Icelandic Poppies (Papaver nudicaule) - stunners in the cooler beds and for cut flowers, like crackly tissue paper with bright apricot centers
Giant Rattle Breadseed Poppy (Papaver somniferum) âLaurens Grapeâ - impressive, huge plants and the first one opened up this morning!
I could go on and onâŚ. I share little garden glimpses on Substack notes weekly, so you can catch these beauties there if youâd like to follow along.
In last monthâs letter I mentioned that we extended our rebar shade structure in the courtyard kitchen garden this winter. I use a 40% industrial grade fabric that you barely notice. The goal was to take the edge off that intense heat on the south edge of the raised box-beds and minimize the need to over-water in that space.
Good news: It seems to be doing the trick perfectly! Although, as mentioned, it hasnât been as hot and dry as it often can be this time of year. But Iâm thrilled with the result.
đźLast Monthâs Lesson Learned
The early birds.
I actually have several planters on the property and buy really good quality seed for the birds. I love them. But darn it - they love to get in there where Iâve sown seeds in the kitchen garden and make a rukus.
No wonder the dill wasnât sprouting.
I reordered a few seed packets and tried again.
Lesson Learned: Always, always put some hardware cloth over the seeded areas to keep those seeds protected until theyâve gotten to a 1- or 2-inch height.
About These Checklists
While we donât offer garden maintenance services here at The Whiskey Porch, these monthly Garden Keeping Checklists are designed to help you stay on track and feel supported through the seasons.
Whether youâre handling everything yourself or working with a maintenance crew, youâll find the tips practical and flexible - especially if youâre gardening in or around Prescott, Arizona, or in other Zone-7 and neighboring climates anywhere in the world.
Each checklist reflects the rhythm I experience here in Prescottâs downtown microclimate, so your own garden may vary slightly depending on your elevation, location, and what youâre growing. Generally speaking, these notes align with USDA Zone 7b.
Of course, no two years are exactly alike, even in the same zone. Some seasons bring an early hard freeze in late October, while others hold off until December. Keep that in mind as you plan your tasks.
These guides are geared toward landscape gardens that include mostly perennials, with a sprinkling of annuals, veggies and herbs.
To learn more about why I started this Garden Keeping Journal:
Letâs get into it!
đđźThe full checklist, closeup images of whatâs blooming, and detailed guidance that follow below are part of The Gift Library, available to paid members of the porch. Thank you for being a Porch Companion or Studio Steward.
