Close-up of ‘Mountain Mist’ Dianthus flowers.

‘Neon Pink’ Dianthus just starting to bloom, held above powder blue foliage

‘Bath’s Pink’ Dianthus set repeatedly throughout a border of pastels (including the blue Amsonia hubrectii)

A very pale pink, actually almost lavender, the lilacs are in bloom — here is Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’, typically topping out at under 6 feet tall, making it useful in the mixed border, or in this case, right along the front walkway to the house,

‘Miss Kim’ Lilac

‘Wine and Roses’ Weigela

Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’ is a prolific flowering shrub, whose very deep rose blooms are set nicely against the wine-colored leaves, which themselves contrast nicely against green foliage during periods when this shrub is not in bloom.

Bletilla striata (Hardy Orchid) contains delicate hot pink flowers high on stems above the long strong strapy leaves, which also contrast nicely with delicate foliage of other plants when this one is not in flower.  The photo shows some pale pink Peony plants peeking out in the background.

Bletilla striata (Hardy Orchid) on the right with Peony peeking out on the left.

‘Nancy of Robin Hill’ Azalea

Achillea ‘Oertel’s Rose’ (Yarrow)

Geraniums are the old stand-by for reliable summer-long color

The Rhododendron x ‘Nancy of Robin Hill’ (Nancy Azalea), top right,  sports luscious large pale pink flowers blooming later than many azaleas, and often repeats blooming later in the season.  This is a great evergreen shrub for the mixed border or foundation where something to fit under low lying windows is needed (it is typically 2′ tall by 3′ wide).  Here, it is a nice facer plant for the Leatherleaf Viburnum (its small leaves make a nice foliage contrast), and it’s foliage also is a great contrast against the large, and lighter green, leaves of the Autumn Bride Heuchera in front of it. Top left, the pooch is sitting in front of Achillea ‘Oertel’s Rose’, a long-blooming Yarrow that flowers in various shades of pink from June to September, and is set in nice ferny light green foliage.  To the right, geraniums sit in flower boxes and will supply reliable color well into the late fall.

Spirea japonica ‘Shirobana’

 Finally, the Spireas are coming into blooms that will be with us for months.  This one is ‘Shirobana’, a shorter version, that flowers in white, pink, and red on the same plant.  Spireas are very useful for long-season flowers in areas where roses cannot be used because of deer issues.  They tend to leave the Spireas alone.

The post Pretty in Pink – Plants Flowering in Early June appeared first on Garden Makeover Company.

The Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) is a wonderful tree if year-round interest is sought.  The white blooms gracing the lateral branches are followed by very large red berries danging from the tree’s stems.  Best to limb up this specimen to amply highlight the outstanding colorful exfoliating bark that makes this tree a standout in the winter.  For something more modest, perhaps closer to the house, the native Chionanthus virginicus or White Fringetree (tree-form or multi-stemmed large shrub) is a gem, with its unique ‘fringelike’ blossums set against the bright light green foliage.  Deutzia gracilis ‘Chardonnay Pearls’ is one of the most prolific white bloomers in the spring, as it first sports little ‘pearls’ for some time before they burst out into tiny white flowers covering the stems like waterfalls.  As the flowers fade, the colorful yellow to chartreuse foliage makes this shrub a nice contrast to darker green leafed plants.

The Pyracantha  is also covered with tiny white flowers in May.  The plant, aptly termed ‘Firethorn’ is a good security option up against the house, and it has lingering interest, e.g., when covered with brilliant firey berries later in the season.

Pyracantha (Firethorn)

Deutzia gracilis ‘Chardonnay Pearls’

Chionanthus virginicus (White Fringetree)

Cornus Kousa (Kousa Dogwood)

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