Flowers of June

And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays.

—James Russell Lowell (1819–1891)
The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.

Despite the warm ear—er, high temperatures, plenty of flowers are at the peak of blooming perfection in my yard now. The daylilies always bloom in June.




Some of my yellow daylilies came from Mama's house on Floraland Drive in Roanoke:




Speaking of yellow, this prickly pear has a lot more blooms than it did the other day:


The Tears of Job started with a plant or two several years ago. Now they're all over.


I can't remember the specific name of this yarrow, but I love the color:


The oak leaf hydrangea in the corner of the patio looks kind of spooky:


There's a gazebo hiding in this jungle:


What is so rare as a day in June?

Days in September, April, and November, of course. Days in February are even rarer.

~