The Thick Month

On By Mick CanningIn environment, June, natural world, trees, wildlife

June is the Thick Month. Trees and bushes and stands of wildflowers have acquired a lush density by now, branches and stems encased in full-sized leaves, rich and vividly green. Leaves massed and packed in swaying light-blocking swathes. Nothing has yet faded, although there is a gradual falling away of birdsong now mating is over and broods are being raised, although this is compensated for by what seems to be an increase in insect noise, especially bee hum – certainly in our garden. The flowers are beset by mason, carder and bumblebees, and large numbers of solitary bees which provide a delightful oxymoron for this recorder, at least.

Going out and about through the woods a mile from my home, I feel I could almost be walking indoors, such is the density of the tree canopy above me, and when it begins to rain I do indeed remain dry, other than from the occasional drip finding its way through. But it is muddy underfoot in places, the sheltering swathes also keeping the sun from drying out the ground. The thick wet dark humus-rich soil smells sweet and clean, reminding me of a ‘plum-pudding smell,’ as Kenneth Grahame described the river-bank in The Wind in the Willows.

The fields, too, are thick with wildflowers and grass, as are roadside borders where councils have refrained from scalping them. As much as I rejoice to find the occasional rarer species amongst them, I think my greatest pleasure is just to see masses of the commoner species; buttercups or ox eye daisies, vetches or speedwells.

I generally see nothing rare when I am walking my patch, but I could never think of any of this as ‘ordinary’.

26 thoughts on “The Thick Month”

  1. My peonies are always short lived once they flower which is a shame. The flowers from the rock rose have also gone though the bush is still thick. As I don’t go out often I haven’t seen many bees this year and I’m afraid I don’t know one from another but I always hope they’ve had a treat from my little patch if they visit. Your walk in the wood sounds very pleasant as does your description of all the wildflowers.
    Have a great rest of the week Mick.
    Hugs

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    1. I think June is the very best month (certainly over here) for most plants. The greens are at their absolute best before they begin to look tired, and the vegetation is rich and lush.

      And I agree, it’s a luxury for which I’m grateful.

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  4. What a lovely description you’ve given us. I almost can smell the green. I’m with you on admiring the ‘ordinary’ flowers; as much as I enjoy the occasional oddity, it’s only knowing the sweep of the ordinary that allows us to recognize them.

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  6. Bumblebees and I have a special bond … I can talk to them and they listen. One even occasionally perches on my nose to hear me better. I do love your field of wildflowers, Mick … nature is so much nicer than buildings, which mostly what I see when I look out my window, although I’ve adopted some squirrels and birds for whom I put out nuts and seeds every morning, so they sometimes give me a show!

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    1. It sounds as though you manage to get the best out of your ‘patch’ then, Jill. Our own garden is fairly small, but it’s as wild and colourful as we can make it, which in turn does attract a few critters.

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      1. We play the cards we are dealt, and work to make the most of our lives, I think. Yes, my garden is less than 6 feet in length and about 2 feet wide, but we have an array of morning glories, sunflowers, and wildflowers! Last year, the people who own this apartment complex cut down most all of the trees! I was so furious, I was out there trying to stop them, but a 70-year-old woman against burly men with chainsaws … sigh. I ended up just standing their crying.

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  10. June is a wonderful month for seeing the world come alive isn’t it? Our daily walks are so full of life currently, everything is thickening up (especially me). Lovely walks where we are around Edenbridge with overgrown footpaths and bridleways.

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