The Wonders of June
The seasonal noticings and magical moments of the month.
I swear that the seasons pass more quickly the older I get… or maybe it’s just that I’m paying more attention to them. But either way, here we are… school is out (probably), the gardens are planted (mostly) and summer is officially on it’s way.
If I had to sum up June, I think it would be the month of growth.
As I write this, I’m sitting on my back deck under a clear blue sky without a cloud in sight. There’s a gentle breeze that carries just enough of a chill on it that it keeps the sun from scorching and I look around to see the backyard full of green – the maple trees fully leafed out, the hydrangeas having put on their fresh growth and starting to show signs of where this years flowers will be, the planters full of herbs that are noticeably larger from when they were planted a few weeks ago. And when that breeze blows through, everything moves with that sound of a gentle rustle… and it feels like a perfect June day.
June doesn’t feel like a particularly flashy month (shhh… don’t tell the peonies that) but I think it’s a month that I appreciate more and more as I get older… especially as a flower farmer, gardener and someone trying to live more mindfully with the seasons.
It’s a transitional month that moves us from spring to summer, and with that I feel like we get the best of both worlds. It’s still cool enough in the mornings and evenings but warm enough during the peak of the day. It’s lush enough where landscapes are full and lively, not overheated and exhausted looking. Bees and butterflies are flying around looking for sweet food but the more pesky insects (like Japanese Beetles and mosquitos) haven’t inundated our outdoor spaces yet.
Things feel comfortable… like this month is sort of nurturing us in a way. We’ve planted, we’ve tended and now we get to watch it all grow.
So here are some of the wonders I’m most looking forward to this month - plus the cycles of the season that make it magical.
The Wonders of June
Peonies: A tried-and-true, fragrant, fluffy, massive flower that is beloved by so many, can carry on from generation to generation, and that might just be the most idyllic cut flower for this month (maybe even in general). Every year I’m in awe of how the smallest bud can open up into layers and layers of soft petals that oftentimes end up being larger than my hand.
The garden growing: There’s a stance in the flower farming/gardening space that June is for watering and weeding. It’s the month where we see the most visible growth for all of our heat-loving flowers and plants. The stems get long, the buds start to swell, the foliage flakes out creating shady spots for little creatures. There might not be as much color yet, but we still get to witness the magic of growth that will soon lead to the bright blooms.
The arrival of summer: Aside from the garden, my favorite part of summer is easily the long days. They feel as if there is a world of possibility and opportunity in each day, with hours and hours to embrace the things we “must do” and also things we want to do. The Summer Solstice gives us the longest day of the year, and it always feels like a day to “make the most of”.
Shade: At this point trees are fully expressed, their leaves unfolded creating the most welcoming canopies. And as the sun gets higher in the sky and the temperatures rise, I’m more and more grateful for cool places to relax amongst the trees.
Herbal magic: This morning I harvested my first batch of sage to hang, dry and bundle for smoke cleansing. Yesterday I snipped the tops off my mint, basil and tulsi plants. It’s officially the season of harvesting herbs that I can use in the kitchen and in my rituals. I have my tried and true favorites, but this year I have a few new things I’m excited to work with, too!
Trips to the beach: I don’t expect the water to be warm enough to swim (at least for me), but heading out to the shores of Lake Michigan so that my pup can take a cool dip is high on the list. Listening to the waves, running my hands through the sand and watching the early summer sunsets do something for the soul.
Maybe June isn’t just about growth though? Maybe it’s also about transition. About the process we get to witness and be a part of. The moments that sometimes slide under the radar in favor of flashier takes, but that end up being important – and playing an important part – in the grand schemes of it all.
The cycles of the month:
June 14 - New Moon in Gemini: A time to set intentions around our curiosities, our connections and the ways we think and communicate.
June 21 - The Summer Solstice: Summer officially begins as we celebrate the longest day of the year, harvest season and the peak of fire energy in the year.
June 21 - Cancer season begins: The season of caring, nurturing, nourishing and tending to our homes and inner emotional worlds.
June 29 - The Strawberry Moon (Full Moon in Capricorn): The culmination from the discipline we’ve had towards are goals that now allows us to enjoy the sweet fruits of our work.
I hope that you find your own moments of magic and wonder this month. That June gives you a chance to feel nourished and nurtured, to feel present in the moments of transition, and to feel a sense of possibility with what’s to come.
A bit about me…
I’m Rebecca (or Becca) - astrologer, flower farmer, and writer exploring life through seasons and cycles. I use astrology and the natural world as lenses for perspective… noticing patterns, timing, and the gentle wonder and wisdom woven through our ordinary days. My work is an invitation to pay attention, to get curious, and to move in rhythm with what feels true to you.
Seasonal Workbooks
Personal Astrology Readings
Growing Resources