Veggetables in the Garden

 

July has arrived—the warmest, even hottest, month here in the north. Plants grow and bloom profusely this month, especially vegetables. I try to grow a few simple vegetables to eat in the summer and preserve them for the winter. It's so nice to open a container of tomatoes, peppers, or beans you grew yourself when there's snow outside.

The zucchini has sprouted large green leaves. They're already blooming, and soon I'll be harvesting small, delicious zucchinis.
In another raised bed, beans are growing. They're also blooming, and it looks like there will be a good bean harvest. 

In the northern part of the garden are several raised vegetable beds. Zucchini, green sweet peas, and sorrel grow here.

In the greenhouse, peppers grow well. This is a sweet pepper; I don't plant hot peppers. 

I always plant dill next to tomatoes. I don't know why, but they grow well together.

This year's tomatoes were very weak when I planted them in the greenhouse. Over time, they have strengthened, and green tomatoes are already visible. I hope to try my tomatoes at the end of July.

Flowers and berry bushes grow in the northern and southern parts of the garden.

Young serviceberry trees are popular with birds, who check the berries every morning to see if they're ripe.

 

This is the trunk of an actinidia tree; it's already 15 years old. The actinidia berries are sweet but fall quickly. 

Gooseberries ripen quickly. While they're light green and hard to see on the bush, in a month they'll be red and sweet.

 

 

Wishing you a warm, fruitful, and delicious summer! 

Colorful June

June in my garden. Simple, unassuming flowers and plants brighten up the corners. I want to show you what the garden looks like in mid-June. The rhododendrons continue to bloom because the end of May was cool, and now they're in full bloom. 

These are the rhododendrons 'Helsinki University' and 'Haaga' (photo above), and the rhododendron 'Grandiflora' (photo below). 

 

 

The clematis are blooming modestly; snails won't leave them alone. 

The white lilac is showing off its fragrant beauty; this is the second year since it was planted. The other white lilac died last winter.
 

 

 

I bought petunia seedlings and planted them in hanging baskets.I have problems growing petunia seedlings from seeds; I guess I just don't have the patience.
 

There are two azaleas in my garden: "Mandarin Light" and "Northern Lights." They started blooming late and are suffering from heavy rains. The "Northern Lights" azalea is blooming modestly, with only a few flowers; I guess the winter was tough on it.

 

Peonies begin blooming in June. As soon as the rhododendrons finish blooming, large peony buds appear. Their fragrance permeates the entire garden, especially in the evening. I have several varieties of peonies, but I can't remember their names.

  Daisies and violets have taken over a low flowerbed; they're growing and blooming on their own, which I'm very pleased with.

 

 

 The ever-blooming begonia and dahlias were grown in the city and have successfully moved into the garden and are thriving.

 

 

I like to spend time with the plants. And when I'm tired, I enjoy admiring the garden while sitting in a chair on the veranda.

Wishing everyone a wonderful June.

 

How to Protect Lilies From Pests?

 

 You'd probably say that the pests need to be exterminated. But these pests, especially the lily beetle, are quite cunning. They try to nibble on young lily buds when the gardener isn't looking or is busy with other plants.

 

I usually inspect lily buds during the day and see new ones appearing. If I don't treat them immediately, the beetle will inevitably find them and eat them from the inside. Within a day or two, the buds will turn yellow and fall off. Then, it's possible that several beautiful lilies won't bloom.

 

 

 

This bright red beetle lays pink eggs on lilies, which can deprive the plant of almost all its buds. Its bright color and impressive size (6-8 mm long) make it stand out against the green foliage. Red beetles on lilies are quite common.  

 

 

 

The lily beetle may look beautiful with its scarlet coloring, but it is a very dangerous pest. If this insect is detected, immediate control measures are necessary. It has powerful jaws. Its diet includes not only leaves but also buds, flowers, and even lily stems. 

 

 

 

 

 

To control lily beetles, I use an organic product: dolomite flour, a natural remedy. Dolomite is a naturally occurring mineral found in nature as a sedimentary rock. Dolomite is composed of oxygen, calcium, and carbon and is found throughout the world. Chemicals can be harmful to bees and other beneficial insects, as well as pets.

 

All the best!

 

Photos of lilies from my garden in 2025. Photos of beetle pests from the internet.