I’ve always loved June, with a glimmer of coolness come evening after warm and sunny days.
It is the first month of the summer season.
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.”
― Maud Hart Lovelace
June is when brides fill the churches and their long white trains follow them to the altar to pledge their lasting love.
It is when love is bright and luminous and the future seems filled with hope and happiness, unmarred by possible dashed dreams on down the road of life.
Then there is the June bug. I haven’t seen one in awhile. But I recall them from my youth.
June bugs derive their name from the fact that adult June bugs emerge from the soil at the end of spring or the beginning of the summer.
These beetles are seen only during the month of May and June in the United States. These bugs survive on the young leaves of trees and plants.
They are attracted to the light, and they buzz and swarm around the glow of an outdoor light.
The longest day of the year occurs on either June 21st or 22nd.
June was most likely named for the Roman goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and the well-being of women.
Another belief is that the month’s name comes from a Latin word which means “younger ones”.
The birthstones for the month of June are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. Each of these stones possess different qualities and represent all the people born in June.
Rose and honeysuckle is the birth flower for those born in June. These flowers signify love, devotion and generosity.
The International Day for the Protection of Children is observed in many countries on June 1.
The second Sunday in June is known as National Children’s Day in the United States, a day to honor the children in our lives.
June 4th is International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
The World Day Against Child Labor was observed across the world on June 12, 2018 with an aim to raise awareness against child labor.
For me June is a month of promise. When seedlings emerge from the soil and reach toward the sun. It is when my roses bloom, shedding their soft velvety petals after only a day or two.
It is that time of the day that means a tall glass of iced tea with sweat quickly beading on the glass.
As a child it meant my granny sat on the porch rocking away the hours till bedtime.
It meant spending the hours of twilight running after elusive lightning bugs that blinked teasingly, and then flew out of reach under cover of darkness.
June meant popsicles and lemonade and hot cobbler cooling on the counter.
It was a time when days were lazy and carefree. And delightfully full of possibility.
What is your favorite thing about the month of June?
Hi. I think June is my favorite of the summer months because it isn’t too hot yet. I put up with July and August in order to get around to fall again! One thing I remember about June from my childhood is that some relatives had apple trees that produced a yellowish apple that became ripe in late June. These apples were given the simple name of June apples by my grandma and other women in the family who turned them into applesauce. I think they also are called yellow transparents. As for June bugs, it makes me realize that insects were a big part of the summer months when I was a child. We thought that June bugs looked like salted peanuts. We chased after fireflies and listened to cicadas. I remember that my brother made a display of butterflies pinned into a box for a boy scout project, and I thought that was a pretty awful thing to do. Then there were misquitoes! I got bitten by them so badly as a child I had to always wear long pants and sleeves when evening came, even though all the other kids kept playing in their shorts and T-shirts. I don’t have that problem now, so I think my body chemistry has changed or something.
What a nice and educational post about June. As a child, June usually meant here in the South, the end of school days, and then shortly thereafter, Vacation Bible School at our church, which meant hanging out with our friends for a more relaxing school time. After I became a Parent, I, too, looked forward to the end of school, as a working Mother, it was less stress for me, too. I think with the better weather and sunshine..we all just feel better and the days are longer for more time to relax. Have a Happy Summer everyone… !!!!
The grass is so green right now – growing like crazy but I don’t really mind cutting it every five days or so. Next month the sod web worms (one of my mortal enemies) will emerge and start killing off areas of the blue grass lawn as the larvae munch on the grass roots. They are very hard to kill. I can kill them on my lawn but my neighbors have them and the little beige moths that are the adults just fly over to my lawn and lay new eggs. I love watching the fireflies at night. Some years back when I had a friend and her young daughter visiting from Las Vegas, we were sitting out on the deck after sunset one July evening at my former home and the fireflies started coming out. The daughter was shocked and amazed – she’d never seen a firefly. Her favorite part of that summer visit was the fireflies. I was amazed that she had never seen a firefly, but after thinking about it, it made sense that the Las Vegas climate wouldn’t support fireflies. Isn’t it interesting the things we take for granted and we just assume everybody sees/experiences the same things we do.
That is easy! What I love most about June are the flowers blooming! Hydrangeas, crepe myrtles, lantana, zinnias, marigolds, purslane, snap dragons, and my knockout roses that bloom in June and many other months, too.
Normally, June would be full of blooms here in Michigan but this year it has been so cold and so rainy that many flowers are late to show their blooms. Or, if they have they have been drowned like my poor peonies. Hopefully we’ll get some more dry, sunny days with warmer air and that will bring on more flowers.
When I think about June in my childhood I can almost smell the earth and grasses on the farm where I used to wander. And hear the bees buzzing and feel the warm sun on my skin. I only lived on the farm until I was eight but those sights and sounds and smells are so strongly imprinted on my senses. An idyllic time.
Nice post, Brenda. You and your patio are one of my best gardening inspirations.
What do I love most about June! Besides the flowers, I love going outside without a coat! This year, in Ohio, we’ve had massive flooding. Many farmers haven’t been able to plant , and have applied for federal aid. I so enjoy your every post, Brenda. I enjoy the phots, the pet antics: just what’s going on in your life and home: the decorating, Nathan, the food, the health issues. You have a gift of making it all interesting.. I hope you never stop!
Your patio garden is outstanding. The sedum has taken off! I thought mine was tall. Will you share pictures of your roses?
June is one of my favorite months…the start of warm weather after an endless winter! I wish the month lasted a lot longer.
However, we’re still in desperate need of sunshine here in northern IL! We’ve had so much rain, the poor farmers are really struggling.
June is the month of flowers. Our roses are bloomed and so are the lilies.
Marilyn
lovely sentiments
1
Your flowers are beautiful. I love June Bugs and Lightening bugs reminds me of my childhood too. Have a great rest of the week.
Kris
Usually my garden is at its best in June….but this year with all the rain it sure isn’t!! I remember that feeling of the last day of school….the whole summer stretching out like an eternity, to fill with books and swimming and sunshine!
I love graduations,weird,I know,but there’s just something about happiness on their faces and their parents….One of my fav gifts to give is “Oh the Places You’ll Go” to me it’s so appropriate,who knows where we’ll wind up down the road when we’re 18? And,of course,a little bit of cash as well.
Summer seems to fly by up here in the North and this has hardly been a banner year so far,seems like it’s never going to stop raining!
Flowers! They seem to peak now! The colors are magnificent. June usually brings some vegetables to ear. Lightening bugs do remind me of my childhood, running after their twinkling lights! Ahhh, June. Beautiful June!