Plant Bright Color to Battle June Gloom

They say there are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. For us in Western Washington, though, I’d like to add a third: June gloom. You can count on it like clockwork—summer likely won’t really arrive until our Fourth of July picnics are over. So what can you do in your yard this month to brighten your flowerbeds and your spirits? 

Annual flowers are great—nothing provides quite the splash of color like the vivid tones of geraniums, New Guinea impatiens or Wave petunias. But if you’re looking for something with a little bit more size that will come back year after year, you’ll love Asiatic lilies. With their bright colors, these bulbs will bloom through early summer and aren’t easily spoiled by the regular rain we get at this time of year. Each year, the bulbs will multiply, allowing you to divide and replant them as you wish.

If you love the look of lilies but don’t enjoy the size that many can grow to (some varieties can easily grow four feet tall), try dwarf Asiatic lilies. At Vander Giessen Nursery, we love the “Lily Looks” series—these varieties bloom profusely with full-sized flowers but top out at two feet or less. My favorite this year is a bright yellow called ‘Tiny Bee’, but there are several other great colors as well.

Another beautiful perennial for early summer color is dianthus (also known as carnations or pinks). This classic selection looks beautiful in the garden year-round with its silvery-blue foliage, but recent advancements in breeding have produced varieties that offer longer bloom times and higher bud counts. Additionally, many recent introductions have brought back the strong fragrances found in some of the older varieties no longer available commercially.

For a larger shrub in your yard that can provide early-summer flowers and all-summer interest, a plant you must check out is ‘Black Lace’ elderberry. With its deeply-cut dark purple foliage and soft pink flowers, it’s a stunning addition to the garden throughout spring and summer. In fall, its berries may be harvested for elderberry jam—or, if you enjoy watching birds in your yard, the fruit may be left for them to enjoy. 

Drought is certainly not a pressing concern in our area right now, but if you tend to forget to water potted plants on your patio, you may want to consider mixing some succulents into your containers. Not afraid of dry conditions, succulents like jade or colorful stonecrop varieties can add beauty and texture to pots out in the sun. Additionally, you can consider adding unique Boxwood basil to frequently-dry containers. While not exactly drought-loving, basil can quickly succumb to too much water, so enjoy the dwarf Boxwood basil variety as an edible, fragrant addition to pots you can keep on the dry side. 

Finally, June is a great time to start enjoying fresh rose bouquets for your dining room table. If you enjoy the beauty and fragrance roses offer, it’s not too late to plant a single shrub or a whole garden. Visit your favorite nursery this month to find roses budded and in bloom. And if you haven’t yet fertilized your existing roses this year, use Bayer All-in-One Rose & Flower Care to make rose gardening easy—it feeds, protects from bugs and prevents diseases in a simple no-spray application. 

June gloom is nothing to smile at, but with lots of colorful plants to enjoy this time of year, a quick trip to your favorite local nursery can go a long way to stave off the doldrums. See what colorful plants you can find to brighten your spirits today!