Strawberry Decisions

The title sounds like a poem, but I'm not feeling too poetic. The strawberries from the garden are really, really good. Absolutely delicious! However, they are a lot of work: Bending and reaching. Weeding. Covering for winter. Uncovering in spring. Rejuvenating plants by digging out old ones and planting runners. Trimming runners. Fortifying the soil (I use compost). Mulching.

I've told myself it's worth it. However, the only way to keep birds and squirrels away is to net the plants. Last year I netted early and removed the net when the main crop had been harvested. However, this year I've had to release two birds caught in the netting. Thankfully, I've been around so they aren't trapped long. 

Even with the net, I still get some damaged berries. Without the net, my work and resources are for the birds (literally). I removed the net after harvesting the bowl of berries (first photo) because I don't want any more birds getting caught. Do I continue the same way (probably not), create a new space for strawberries, or go an entirely new direction?

June's Rains

Maybe we've had too much rain? I'm thankful for our excellent soil drainage. The heat and humidity are on their way, but I've had pleasant working conditions with cooler temperatures and lower dewpoints. I feel like the garden is in better shape than usual this time of year. Right now plants are lush and vivid and thriving. 

The rose is blooming.

The new Mock orange is thriving (above). I'm glad I planted the two cherry trees, the small spruce, and this shrub this season because I haven't had to water as much with our frequent rains. 

Above is a small portion of the native garden I added last year, although the daisies (in bud form) aren't exactly native. Below is a coneflower, blooming early.

I love these blanket flowers, and the pollinators do, too.

Below is native phlox.

This is the last of the siberian irises to bloom.

The Itoh peonies, which I planted from bare roots from a warehouse store, are thriving. It's their third year. I bought more bareroot peonies this spring, but I'm not sure they're going to make it. But these are gorgeous!

Below are two photos from early June. The first is the from the front, with wild lupine, Siberian iris, and chives. This photo doesn't show the bare spots from winter damage. The second is native viburnum.