The first tomato plant and wild daisy have blossomed, we’ve been savoring the freshest of all possible salads from our lettuce and spinach bed, and nearly everything in my much-too-large vegetable garden and smaller flower beds are doing well.

So far, we’ve had just enough rain to prompt germination or spur the growth of all of our vegetables and flowers.

The irises, in a vast array of colors from purple to beige, are displaying their regal heads, the pansies are brighter than I’ve ever seen them, the pink rhododendrons are at their peak and are about to pass for another year and the rugged day lilies are about to bloom. The wild strawberries are nearly ready to pick, and the number of blackberry blossoms on their prickly canes seem to say that this year will be a good one.

Right now, on this gloriously sunny, low humidity day, the fullness of June is at its zenith. The trees, the grass, the bushes and brush still hold a hint of spring green. They have not yet become the deep green of summer.

Now, anyone who gardens knows that all kinds of insect pests and diseases, along with too much rain or not enough, can alter our grand plans. But until then, this perfect day in June stands as a major reason why I grow gardens. When I look out over the vegetable garden and flower beds, the thoughts of all the hard work and sore muscles disappear. The world is gorgeous, and Mother Nature is truly blessing her magical earth.

And as the season progresses, more will grow and produce, transitioning from beauty-to-behold to beautiful, fresh and very local vegetables to eat and flowers to display on the kitchen table.

I finally planted the last of my vegetable garden a week or so ago, which is later than most years. Starting some seedlings inside helped spur growth along, while direct seeding has done well, too.

Late June is a time to not only study the grandeur that has already appeared, but a time to help ensure that the healthy, strong start will continue.

Here are a few things to consider doing by the end of June:

* Remove the tall, tough seed stalks from the rhubarb patch; once all pink and red stalks have been harvested and used or preserved for another year, fertilize the patch.

* Keep a close watch on both the cultivated and wild blackberry and raspberry patches. If the wild and cultivated are too close to each other, the wild ones may infect the cultivated varieties with a destructive virus. Mulch the berry plants.

* In the potato patch, chances are the plants have grown at least a foot. Now is the time to hill them, if they were planted, or to add layers of straw or hay if they are growing using that method. Keep the potato plants free of weeds, and look under the leaves every day to detect Colorado potato beetle eggs or larva. It’s easier to control these destructive insects if they are caught early.

* Continue to add kitchen vegetable scraps or grass clippings to a new compost pile. In the meantime, use the already-processed compost pile to mulch around tomatoes, winter squash and pumpkins, or any other vegetable that may need a boost.

* Pick a lovely bouquet of whatever cultivated and/or wild flowers available and arrange in a colorful display for the center of the dinner table. Even better, create another bouquet to bring to someone who has no flower garden. It is guaranteed to perk up their day.

* Try to get into a routine of spending time every day in all gardens. Weeding on a routine basis will keep the worst of weeds and grass down so the nutrients will be directed to the vegetables or flowers, and will let you know immediately if a cucumber beetle, flea beetle, squash bug, Japanese beetle or any other destructive pest has found its way into your garden.

* Clip back the daffodil and tulip leaves, clear out the patch and plant marigold, zinnia, pansy or some other flower seedlings.

* Late June and early July are good times to start early fall crops. If green or yellow beans are popular, plant more of those. I try to keep lettuce and spinach growing right up to October, either in the main garden or in containers. Beets and carrots may also be replanted for an autumn harvest.

* Keep an eye out for white moths fluttering around broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. This means eggs have been laid, or will be soon, and these cabbage loopers can cause significant damage to those crops.

* A quick view of the pumpkin and winter squash hills will show which of the seedlings are the strongest. As much as it hurts (at least for me), pluck out the weaker plants so that the remaining ones will get all the nutrients and become stronger. Mulch or fertilize the remaining plants.

So far, so good, for this season. Hope for just enough rain and not too much, because some plants, particularly tomatoes, are highly susceptible to both early and late blight, which is encouraged by too much rain.

More on that in my next column.

In the meantime, try to just take some time and enjoy what the magical earth has already given. It is, indeed, a miracle.

Eileen M. Adams has been gardening for decades and continues to be amazed at all that Mother Earth can give. She may be reached at petsplants@midmaine.com.

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