Early June bloom report — Long Island zone 7a

Two days of rain followed by sun and 78°F, which is exactly the weather peonies wait for and exactly the weather that brings out the slugs on the hostas.

What's at peak in my Long Island yard right now:

• - **Allium 'Purple Sensation'** — peaking. The drifts I planted in 2023 are at their best, about 28 inches tall, behind a row of finished daffodils. Per [Penn State Extension](https://extension.psu.edu/spring-bulbs), the species form blooms 2-3 weeks earlier than the giant globe types — that timing is holding up here.
• - **Catmint 'Walker's Low'** — month 1 of 4. The June bloom is the densest. I'll shear it back hard at the end of June and it'll rebound for a second flush in late July.
• - **Russian sage** — just starting. First blue spikes opening this week. By next week it'll be a haze of blue against the cedar fence.
• - **Salvia 'May Night'** — second cycle starting. First flush finished mid-May; I cut hard, fed once, and the second wave is opening now.

What's just finished:

• - **Peonies** — done. The last 'Sarah Bernhardt' petals dropped over the weekend. Cut all spent stems to the ground; mulch around the crowns is fine to leave.
• - **Daffodils** — foliage is yellowing but still attached. I won't cut it until it pulls off easily — that's how the bulb reloads for next year. Per [Cornell Cooperative Extension](https://cce.cornell.edu/), tying or braiding daffodil foliage reduces next year's bloom by 20-30%. Just let it ripen.

What's about to start:

• - **Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer'** — buds visible but not opening. Probably 7-10 days out.
• - **Catmint will probably need shearing in another 2-3 weeks** to prompt the second flush.

The deer hit the hostas again Saturday night. I sprayed Bobbex Sunday morning. The Astilbe and Heuchera in the same bed are untouched.

— Thomas