June is here in one more day… and I’ve been waiting for it.

Isn’t this a fun time of year? The garden feels full, the days are even longer, and suddenly, all the months of seed starting, planting, watering, staking flowers, and waiting begin to feel worth it.

Some weeks don’t have a big headline.

No trips, no major projects, no grand plans. Just a few beautiful days, a little rain, and a garden that finally decided to show up.

This was that kind of week.

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Around the Garden

The peonies are finally open. I’ve been watching those buds for weeks, and this week they just decided it was time.

I’ve been cutting them every few days, and the kitchen table looks exactly like it should at the end of May.

This is the season when even a quick walk through the garden turns into a much longer one because there’s always something new to stop and admire.

Here’s what I saw while walking the garden paths this week:

The lupins have been blooming for a while now and continue to stun.

The calendula is bright and cheerful along the stone path.

The columbine and lavender are bright and beautiful.

Jax and Ollie have been my constant companions on these walks, which makes them even better.

We had two genuinely warm, sunny days this week, and I made the most of them with time on the deck, slow mornings, and an unscheduled afternoon that’s hard to come by.

Then the rain moved in for two days, which the garden needed anyway. A little bit of everything… very Pacific Northwest, very May.

The greenhouse patio is my favorite spot right now.

Everywhere I look right now, something new is blooming.

Check out this pink foxglove that apparently self-seeded from last year. And a pale purple iris quietly opening nearby is just as pretty.

I planted two different colors of dianthus in a ceramic pot this year to give this area in the garden a pop of color while waiting for the purple coneflower and blazing star to bloom this summer.

The Cutting Garden and the Ongoing Battle

The zinnias are looking a bit better after a round of neem oil, which is a relief. I was generally worried about them.

Now it’s the roses with black spot. There’s always something, isn’t there? I’ve been gardening long enough to know that this is just part of it. You solve one problem, and something else quietly announces itself.

That doesn’t make me feel better, though.

The roses are getting treated, and I’m keeping a closer eye on everything now.

Around the Cottage

I have a bit of a thing for seashells. Some people might call it an obsession, but I prefer to think of it as dedication to beach cottage life.

This time of year, I start bringing more of the coast indoors. Glass cloches, filled with shells and starfish, start showing up around the house, and those little touches instantly make everything feel lighter and summery. Yes, summery. It’s a word. It should be anyway.

I love how simple seasonal decorating can be. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s just bringing in what makes you smile. For me, it’s always the same two things: flowers from the garden and seashells from the shore.

On the Blog This Week

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

This charming space feels like the setting of a Nancy Meyers film.

Check out these cozy goals for the summer.

Here’s a recipe for the best tender smoked country-style pork ribs.

This equestrian oasis is a gorgeous Jenny Martin Design project.

How about these homemade honey garlic parmesan biscuits?

Looking Ahead

June is right around the corner, and with it, the shift from planting season into maintenance season. Watering, deadheading, feeding the containers, staying one step ahead.

More blooms are coming. The garden always has something next.

Happy first week of June, friends.

Until next time,