We need beauty because it makes us ache to be worthy of it. ~Mary Oliver

I stepped outside at dawn this morning to a tuneful chorus of birds in the trees above me. After days of torrential rain, the birds seemed to celebrate being able to hear their own songs again. But the rain was welcome after a month of heat and drought and the garden is lush and green again.

In my garden, after a rainfall, you can faintly, yes, hear the breaking of new blooms.” ~Truman Capote

I sometimes wonder how life can be this beautiful, this life in a garden. As I continue to leave behind the intention of striving for success in the world, I am content to allow the garden to rule my imagination and inner life. Last night I dreamed of orange poppies and purple alliums but walking through the garden this morning was more beautiful than any dream.

Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers, where I can walk undisturbed . . . ~Walt Whitman

In late May and early June, the irises rang out color through the garden – bearded and Siberian iris are well known flowers and create bold imagery. (click on any thumbnail to see full size images)

‘Beverly Sills’ singing on the steps

Siberian iris ‘Riverdance’

Firefly on iris

Bearded iris ‘Beverly Sill’s

River of iris

Our less well known native Iris versicolor

and Iris virginica

bring a quiet and subtle grace to the garden.

Watching the iris,
the faint and fragile petals –
How am I worthy? ~ Amy Lowell

On the cusp between May and June, peonies and allium bloom outside the fence where the herds of deer ignore them. My favorite peony is ‘Krinkled White’ whose single flowers expose the inner parts that feed the bees and yet resist falling to the ground after a rain.

It is a fairy flower. Can you see it, touch it, smell it, and not love it? . . . The next time I live I wish I might be a single white peony so that people would . . . involuntarily catch their breath at the sight of me. ~Ruth Stout

As June arrives, foxgloves and native iris join the peonies in the front garden to create a peak moment of bloom and offer more food for pollinators.

The roses lead into early summer, heavy with perfume and transcendent beauty that catches the light as the earth spins toward the solstice. The simple pink blossoms of rose ‘Complicata’ adorn the arbor above while geraniums and peonies add color underfoot.The single rose flowers catch the sun and spread their sweet scent in every direction.

Rose, O you completely perfect thing, always self-contained and yet spilling yourself forever . . . ~Rilke

The lush blossoms of a David Austin pink rose throw a June garden party with Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ and Clematis ‘Comtesse de Bouchaud’

while the rich color and heady fragrance of ‘Rose de Rescht’ captures the eye and the nose.

. . . when I am alone I can become invisible. . . I can hear the almost unhearable sound of the roses singing ~Mary Oliver

The native white Hydrangea arborescens has begun its long summer bloom cycle as it surrounds the bench where I often sit in the shade of the woodland.

Pixie, sweet and ever present garden companion, just celebrated her second birthday.She asked if she could help me with garden chores. So grown up.

I filmed a slice of life in my garden from May into June filled with color and light. I invite you to walk with me through the garden that I love and treasure –  may you find pleasure in the shared journey.

Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. ~Mary Oliver

All photographs, video and text ©2023 by Lynn Emberg Purse except where noted, All Rights Reserved.